Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud’s mother, Kim Stroud, shared an emotional response on social media following the serious injury of Stroud’s teammate, Tank Dell. Her reaction underscored the emotional weight of the situation after Dell suffered a devastating injury during the Texans’ 27-19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.
The injury occurred during a 30-yard touchdown catch when Dell collided with teammate Jared Wayne in the end zone. Before the injury, Dell had an impressive performance with six catches for 98 yards. He was taken off the field in a medical cart and later spent two nights in a Kansas City hospital before returning to Houston on Monday.
Reflecting on the incident, Stroud expressed deep sadness, saying, “To see your brother go down like that after just dealing with a season injury last year … I just be there for him.” Stroud acknowledged how much the injury affected him emotionally but emphasized the importance of supporting Dell during his recovery.
Dell’s injury ends an impressive sophomore season where he recorded 51 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns across 14 games. This followed a strong rookie season with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games.
Stroud drew inspiration from other NFL players who had successfully returned from consecutive injuries, including Derwin James and Jaycee Horn. He emphasized the importance of giving Dell the space to recover and process the situation. “Let him spend this time with his family and try to give him a little bit of room just to breathe and take in what’s really going on,” he said.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans later confirmed the severity of the injury, stating, “He dislocated the knee. He tore the ACL and other things there he’ll have to get repaired.” Ryans also commended the Kansas City medical staff for their exceptional care.
CJ Stroud
The injury adds to the challenges faced by the Texans, who are leading the AFC South with a 9-6 record. Earlier in the season, the team lost Stefon Diggs to a season-ending knee injury in Week 8. As Houston continues its playoff push, they are set to face the Baltimore Ravens (10-5) on Chr
istmas Day.