Tank Dell Update Trends the Right Way
Tank Dell Update Trends the Right Way
DeMeco Ryans and the McNairs Update on the Texans WR
Tank Dell was one of ten victims in a Florida mass shooting in late April. On Monday, his head coach and members of the team’s ownership spoke about Dell’s situation.
“It’s frightening,” said Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Texans Cal McNair at the team’s charity golf tournament.
“We’re just grateful that I believe no one was seriously hurt, but it looks like Tank will make a full recovery.”
Dell has since been back in Houston after suffering what KRPC reported was a shot through his leg that entered and exited his leg but didn’t create structural damage.
“We saw him in the office the other day,” McNair said. “He looked good. In good spirits but he’ll have to rehab and get back to where he was.”
DeMeco Ryans said he spoke with Dell and twice said Dell would be “fine” but declined to answer directly if Dell is set to miss any of the team’s scheduled workouts.
Dell is incredibly lucky. Law enforcement in Florida has shown images and footage where Dell is between two shooters at the private party he attended. This could have been a tragedy for Dell and the other nine injured in the shooting. The physical pain is present but the mental anguish I can’t imagine for those involved.
For Dell, football could be an escape. Official offseason work for the team is on the horizon, and if his injuries are indeed as reported he could be working out in some of those sessions.
The role Dell will play in this offense is irreplaceable. He is going to be the matchup nightmare for opposing teams. While Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins garner attention from the top cornerbacks Dell will get slot cornerbacks, linebackers, and safeties. He will be a tough cover in this offense.
Dell was on pace for a 1,000-yard season before his leg injury against the Broncos and he had scored five touchdowns in the previous four games. He was a favorite of C.J. Stroud and I don’t expect that to change even with the Diggs addition.
It will be wonderful when Dell, and others, can put the unfortunate event from over a week ago behind them. It seems like he is on that path now.
J.J. Watt Return Rumblings Persist
J.J. Watt is ready to play for the Texans again if DeMeco Ryans calls him. DeMeco Ryans is prepared to call J.J. Watt to play.
Yet, Watt remains retired, a soccer club owner, and a part-time CBS broadcaster. Ryans remains just a former teammate of his and not his coach.
As much as I would love to see Watt chasing down a quarterback at NRG Stadium this fall it isn’t happening. Despite Watt’s declaration over the weekend that he would stay in shape and answer the call. Despite Ryans’ saying he needed to make the call “right now” with a chuckle and a smile on Monday.
Watt is retired and staying retired. The exact scenario that would have elicited his return occurred last season with only 99 jerseys appearing in the stands.
The Texans were in a fight for a playoff spot with multiple hobbled defensive ends. Will Anderson was nursing an injury. Jonathan Greenard was missing time. Jerry Hughes and Derek Barnett were taking more and more snaps.
The time for Watt was last year…and the phone didn’t ring.
Why would this season be different?
If the Texans are awesome and one of the best teams in the AFC, then Watt likely wouldn’t be needed. Danielle Hunter, Anderson, and others would likely be holding down the edge spots at a level Watt wouldn’t be able to replicate. If the team is bad, why would he come back?
Staying in shape and getting in football shape are two different things too. Watt would need a significant ramp-up to be ready for football action and by the time he is ready the season could be over or injured players could be healed.
Watt has never been a ring chaser. He joined the Cardinals when he left. Not the 49ers. Not the Packers. Not the Eagles. Not one of the AFC elites. Someone who has the motto “Dream Big, Work Hard” doesn’t seem like he would ride the coattails of a successful Texans team showing up as the final chapters are written.
As much as those new red uniforms would look incredible with “WATT” and “99” on his back, it is something we won’t see this season or any other season after it.
Cade Stover’s Call With Cal
Cal McNair was asked about making the calls to the draft prospects as the team drafted and he mentioned one in particular that stood out.
“One of the best ones was to the farm for our tight end.”
Stover is my favorite draft pick and the player who has the best potential from this draft class to be a steal. He became a go-to target at Ohio State despite highly-touted wide receivers as his teammates. He hasn’t been playing the position long and is still learning the intricacies. Despite a knee injury last year he still improved on the previous year’s statistics.
I’m excited to see what he does in the offseason program and training camp will be even more exciting with an extra game and a few more practices than most teams.
Diggs Learns the Hard Way
Stefon Diggs finally got to the rude part of his welcome to Houston: driving in the city.
I shudder to think at what exit he might have missed that caused him to add so much time to his trip. Don’t worry Diggs, the streets will never get as nasty with the regularity they did in Buffalo. I can’t promise the drivers are better though.
On the horizon is the NFL’s schedule release as well as the rookie minicamp this weekend. I look forward to covering them in depth here on the site. I have a wishlist and whatever the opposite of a wishlist is for what I want to see on the schedule for the Texans.
Gotta make a counterpoint here. I feel there’s definitely a chance he plays for us next season. None of us truly know, what he is thinking about internally. You’re not a three time defensive MVP without a love for the game. I’m sure his medical incident Gave him second thought about his passion, but with time we all come to realize life is short and you gotta do what you love. So if he’s in that mental state, then he may well Want to play next season, Preferably for us. And maybe this is already in flight, and why we didn’t take a defensive tackle earlier in the draft. He wouldn’t take snaps from Hunter or Anderson. He should be lining up inside next to Autrey. Imagine that defense line!
Cody, thanks again for your Houston Football posts. I look forward to them every morning when I check my mail. I also enjoy the opportunity you give us to make some comments of our own....
Stefon....We ALL feel your pain. Houston traffic, depending on the time of day or an accident, can be brutal....My suggestion is to just turn up your favorite play list, sing along to the jam, and be patient. If you have to be somewhere at a certain time....leave a little earlier.....It's just a part of life in Houston we all have gotten used to....You will get used to it as well.
Tank....I suggest you take it easy and let your body fix itself.....It will. You are a very lucky man that it was a through and through bullet wound and didn't hit bone.....It's gonna hurt for a while but once it heals you will be the same top notch reciever you were before.
Cade....CJ will be very happy to have you back in his "target" rotation again. You know his acuracy and it has gotten even better than you remember. You have a great opportunity to be able to play with a seasoned TE in Shultz and learn what to do....and not to do because in reality....you have the physical skills to be a better blocking TE over time than Shultz has been.....Keep working hard and perfect your skills......Your time will come.
JJ........You are who you are....YOU are in the TEXANS RING OF HONOR and already have our respect!!
You have nothing to prove to anyone except to yourself.....If you SERIOUSLY WANT to play again then show up for OTAs. I can assure you....DeMeco will be HAPPY to give you a locker and put you to work.....You will know within a few days whether you and your body still have that "IT" or not....and so will DeMeco.......Could you make us a better defense???.....I think so....Come in the building and prove it to your team mates!!
It's up to you to take the first step and ASK DeMeco for a shot to prove you still have the skills for a roster spot.....Demeco can't publicly be the one to ASK YOU for help. That would make him look like he doesn't trust in who he has to work with now.......He can't, as a head coach, do that....You of all people should know that.
IF you really do want to do this....show up to camp with cleats in hand like just anyone else.....and PROVE IT.
KEEPING THE FAITH!!!
GO TEXANS!!!