Texans designate WR Tank Dell for return from IR, he practices Wednesday

The Houston Texans have taken a major step toward getting receiver Tank Dell back on the field, designating him for return from injured reserve and getting him on the practice field Wednesday.

Dell has been working his way back ever since catastrophically injuring his right knee during the 2024 season — tearing his ACL, LCL and MCL, dislocating the joint and suffering meniscus damage, efforts that have now reached the point where Houston has opened a practice window for him. Because Dell was placed on injured reserve, Houston now has a 21-day window to decide whether to add him back to the active roster.

A healthy Dell would give the Texans' passing game a proven playmaker as Houston looks to keep its offense moving through the middle of the season. Wednesday's designation is the clearest sign yet that the receiver is on the verge of a return after the Texans had been cautious about his comeback since he went on IR at the start of the season.