Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud expressed deep emotion while discussing the left knee injury that resulted in wide receiver Tank Dell's hospitalization after the team's defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. Following the game, Stroud acknowledged the difficulty of coping with the injury, particularly given his close friendship with Dell. He stated, "It's not easy to just let it go, especially, that's my best friend. Not easy to move on and keep playing, but I tried to do as best as I could." Stroud also credited his teammates for their support during this emotional time.

Wide receiver Nico Collins also shared his feelings with reporters, emphasizing how painful it was to witness Dell's injury. Dell sustained the injury after catching a touchdown pass from Stroud in the third quarter. He was subsequently taken to the University of Kansas Hospital, where he remained for the night, according to Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. The touchdown had brought the Texans to within one point of a tie, but the severity of the injury was apparent immediately as Dell collided with a teammate on the play. As he was carted off the field with his left leg in an air cast, the broadcast captured moments of his teammates rallying around Stroud, who appeared visibly upset by the incident.

Following Dell's injury, the Texans struggled to regain offensive momentum. After an unsuccessful extra point attempt on the touchdown, Houston managed only a single field goal on their final three offensive drives. Ryans addressed the media post-game, characterizing Dell's injury as "significant." According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Dell suffered a dislocated kneecap, currently under evaluation by medical professionals, with surgery being a possible consideration. Prior to his injury, Dell had tallied 45 receptions for 569 yards and two touchdowns over 13 games, and he recorded six catches for 98 yards against the Chiefs before sustaining the injury. This incident marks the second consecutive season in which Dell has experienced a serious leg injury during a game, as he previously missed the final six games of the regular season and two postseason matchups due to a fractured fibula suffered in Week 13 of the 2023 season.