The Houston Texans are having a successful season in DeMeco Ryan’s first year as head coach and C.J. Stroud’s first year as starter. Their offense ranks tenth in terms of points, sixth in terms of yards, fifth in terms of yards per play, and second in terms of passing yards.
The offense will be put to the test for the rest of the 2023 season after standout rookie wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a season-ending fractured fibula in their 22-17 win over the Denver Broncos.
The rookie quarterback for the Houston Texans was having a fantastic rookie season.
Tank Dell was having an outstanding rookie season. He had 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as a 113.7 passer rating and an 83.4 PFF grade. Dell has the team’s second-most receptions, second-most receiving yards, and second-most receiving touchdowns.
Dell ranks eighth among rookie receivers in receptions, second in receiving yards, and first in receiving touchdowns.
Stroud became emotional when discussing Dell’s injury: “You see your brother putting in so much effort to be so helpful, so to see him go out…It’s difficult, man. Every day, we work our tails off to make people happy. We stake our lives on the body, putting our bodies on the line time and again, only to see it fail. It’s freezing outside. It is not simple.”
In the absence of Tank Dell, two wide receivers must step up.
The first wide receiver to step up is:
Robert Woods is the first wide receiver who must step up. Woods is in his 11th season in the NFL. In his career, he has 653 receptions for 7,930 yards and 38 receiving touchdowns.
During the offseason, Woods agreed to a two-year, $15.25 million contract. He appeared in ten games and started nine of them as a slot receiver, recording 30 receptions for 326 yards and one touchdown.
The number two wide receiver must step up.
Noah Brown is the second wide receiver who must step up. Brown is in his sixth season in the NFL. He spent his first five years with the Dallas Cowboys, where he had 82 receptions for 980 yards and three touchdowns.
During the offseason, he agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million contract. This season, Brown has 21 receptions for 439 yards and one touchdown. Brown has missed six games due to injuries.
In Dell’s absence, Brown should be the starting receiver going forward.
Who is their top wide receiver?
Nico Collins is the Houston Texans’ top wide receiver this season. Collins is having a career year in his third season with the team. He’s caught 59 passes for 991 yards and six touchdowns.
Will they make the postseason?
With a 7-5 record, the Houston Texans are third in the AFC South and currently eighth in the AFC. Houston would be out of the playoffs if the season ended today.
Houston plays the Jets on the road in Week 14, the Titans on the road in Week 15, the Browns at home in Week 16, the Titans at home in Week 17, and the Colts on the road in the season finale.
All of these games are winnable, and they have a chance to make the playoffs this season. However, with Tank Dell out of the lineup, it will be more difficult unless Robert Woods and Noah Brown step up.
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