PITTSBURGH - - Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and wide receiver Tank Dell knew coming into Friday night’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers that their time on the field would be limited to only two offensive series, and that was all they needed to show that they were still in sync with one another.
On the third play of their final series, Stroud found Dell, who had settled into a soft spot in the Steelers zone defense for a 34-yard catch, and after slipping out of two tackles, Dell found his way into the endzone.
It was his first touchdown since Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. Dell finished the game with one reception for 34 yards and a touchdown in the Texans 20-12 preseason victory over the Steelers.
“It’s good to see him back out there, get him the ball, let him do what he do,” said Stroud during his postgame press conference. “So very happy for him, and it’s just amazing to see all the stuff he’s been through to persevere through that and make a big-time play. That’s who he is, and it’s much more to come.”
Friday’s game was Dell’s first NFL action since he broke his fibula last season in a Week 13 matchup against the Denver Broncos that kept him sidelined for the rest of the regular season and two playoff games.
His rehabilitation process was grueling and tedious, but the former University of Houston standout pushed through it and was having a great offseason before adversity struck again when he was a victim as an innocent bystander in a mass shooting at a nightclub in Florida during his trip back to his hometown to visit with relatives.
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| Photo Courtesy: Houston Texans |
“He’s tough,” Stroud said about Dell’s perseverance. “He’s resilient. You can’t deny it. It’s just pure God-given talent but just hardworking, the hard work he puts in day in, day out, and I think every time he touches the field, you see it’s put on display. So, I think it’s just a start for him and he’s going to continue to grow and grow, and it’s amazing to have one of my best friends back on the field.”
Coach Ryans and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik have witnessed how determined Dell has been throughout training camp to get back on the field and produce. He finished his rookie season with 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games played.
The camaraderie between him and Stroud, evident since the rookie minicamp last season, helps them prepare for their sophomore campaigns.
“We lost Tank last year to the injury, and you see why we missed him,” Ryans told reporters after the game. “He’s a big-play threat every time he’s on the field. So, I was excited to see that connection make a big play for us.
“Tank is tough. Pound for pound, one of the toughest guys on our team. The ability to make guys miss and the toughness to get through the end zone, that’s who Tank is.”