The Houston Texans are having a good season in DeMeco Ryans’ first year as head coach and C.J. Stroud’s first year as the starting quarterback. Their offense is 10th in points, 6th in yards, 5th in yards per play, and 2nd in passing yards.
The offense will be tested for the remainder of the 2023 season because their standout rookie wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a season-ending fractured fibula in their 22-17 victory over the Denver Broncos.
The Houston Texans rookie was having a great rookie season
Tank Dell was having a great rookie season. He had 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns, with a 113.7 passer rating when targeted and an 83.4 PFF Grade. Dell has the second-most receptions, the second-most receiving yards, and the most receiving touchdowns on the team.
Dell is ranked 8th in receptions, 2nd in receiving yards, and tied for first in receiving touchdowns among rookie receivers.
Stroud got emotional when talking about the injury to Dell:
“You see your brother putting so much work trying to be so helpful, so to see him go out…it’s tough man. We fight our tails off every day to make people happy. We put our lot in our lives on the body…our bodies on the line, time and time again and to see that happen. It’s cold. It’s not easy.”
There are two wide receivers that must step up in the absence of Tank Dell.
Wide Receiver number one that must step up
The first wide receiver that must step up is Robert Woods. Woods is currently in his 11th year in the NFL. He has 653 receptions for 7,930 yards and 38 receiving touchdowns in his career.
Woods signed a 2-year, $15.25 million contract during the offseason. He has appeared in ten games and made nine starts in the slot, recording 30 receptions for 326 yards and one touchdown.
Wide Receiver number two that must step up
The second wide receiver that must step up is Noah Brown. Brown is currently in his sixth year in the NFL. He played his first five years with the Dallas Cowboys, recording 82 receptions for 980 yards and three receiving touchdowns.
He signed a 1-year, $2.6 million contract during the offseason. Brown has 21 receptions for 439 yards and one touchdown this season. Brown has battled injuries and has missed six games.
Expect Brown to be the starting receiver in Dell’s absence moving forward.
Who is their number one wide receiver?
The Houston Texans’ number one wide receiver this season is Nico Collins. Collins is having a breakout season in his third year with the team. He has 59 receptions for 991 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
Will they make the playoffs?
The Houston Texans are in 3rd place in the AFC South with a 7-5 record and are currently 8th place in the AFC. If the season ended today, Houston would be eliminated from the playoffs.
Houston plays on the road against the Jets in Week 14, on the road against the Titans in Week 15, at home against the Browns in Week 16, at home against the Titans in Week 17, and on the road against the Colts in their season finale.
All of these games are winnable and there is a possibility they make the playoffs this season. However, it will be more difficult with Tank Dell out of the lineup, unless Robert Woods and Noah Brown step up.
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