Texans Make Move At Wide Receiver After Tank Dell's Crushing Injury
12/23/2024 05:04 PM
The Houston Texans located a new wide receiver after losing Tank Dell to a significant injury.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed Monday that Dell suffered a torn ACL and dislocated kneecap during Saturday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The star wide receiver, who missed the end of his 2023 rookie campaign with a broken fibula, will require season-ending surgery.
Houston reportedly responded by adding a former Pro Bowler who has bounced around organizations all year. According to multiplereports, the Texans claimed Diontae Johnson off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens.
Johnson looked like a rising star when registering 1,161 receiving yards and eight touchdowns for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. Following depreciated production, they sent him to the Carolina Panthers this offseason.
Johnson registered 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games. With their playoff hopes in flames, the Panthers traded him to the Baltimore Ravens in late October.
Nearly two months later, Johnson's Ravens tenure ends with one reception for six yards.
Johnson played just 39 snaps in four games before he refused to play in Baltimore's Week 13 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Ravens suspended him for their following game before saying last Monday that they "mutually agreed" to excuse the receiver from team activities.
Baltimore ended the short but messy saga by waiving Johnson after defeating Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
Johnson will get another chance with the Texans, who also lost Stefon Diggs to an ACL tear earlier this season. Dell recorded 51 catches for 667 yards, both ranking second on the team to Nico Collins.
"That s--- hurts. It hurts. We know how much he meant to this team," Collins said of Dell's injury, per ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime. "But losing one of your brothers, man, it hurts. Speedy recovery for my dog. Mentally, he's going through it, but we have to keep stepping, keep climbing for him."
Johnson joins the Texans right before they face the Ravens on Wednesday, but two days might not be enough preparation for him to suit up for a holiday revenge game.
Related: Baltimore Ravens Cut Disgruntled Wide Receiver Right Before Saturday's Game
