Statistics, real name and more about the Texans wide receiver

The Houston Texans have lost their two best wide receivers for an extended period of time in recent weeks. Heading into the Thursday Night Football matchup with the New York Jets, the Texans' passing offense will likely lean on second-year wideout Tank Dell.

Houston's top receiver, Nico Collins, injured his hamstring during a Week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills. After initial reports that Collins was “day-ready” prior to Week 6, he was placed on injured reserve later that week, leaving him off the Texans' roster until Week 10 at the earliest.

During the Texans' Week 8 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Stefon Diggs suffered a non-contact knee injury three weeks later. After several days of evaluations, the team concluded that their other top target had a torn ACL and would be out for the remainder of the season.

As of Wednesday, Dell is the top receiver listed on the Texans' official depth chart ahead of Thursday night's game. He is also the third most productive Houston receiver in receptions and yardage this year, behind only Collins and Diggs. He and tight end Dalton Schultz will likely be the two best pass-catching options for quarterback CJ Stroud in Week 9.

Here's what you should know about Dell:

Tank Dell stats

Dell has played in seven games this season after missing the Texans' Week 4 game with a pectoral injury.

In those seven games, the University of Houston product has caught 24 of his 38 targets for 229 yards and two touchdowns. All of these numbers rank third (or tied for third) among all Texas pass catchers this season.

Since entering the league last year, Dell has appeared in 18 games and started 12. He missed the final five games of the 2023 season after breaking his fibula.

In his career, Dell caught 71 of his 113 targets for 938 yards and nine touchdowns. He also recorded 17 rush attempts for 81 yards.

During his senior year of college in Houston, Dell led the nation with 1,398 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns. His 109 receptions trailed only Purdue's Charlie Jones (110).

Tank Dell's real name

Dell's real first name is Nathaniel.

In an interview with “The Pivot Podcast,” the Texas wide receiver revealed how he got his nickname “Tank.” Host Ryan Clark asked him how he got the nickname despite his smaller stature. Dell is listed at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds.

“I had a big head. That was it. My mom said I had a tank head when I was younger, so she probably started calling me that when I was only a year old,” he said. “Then my friends came over, they heard 'Tank come here, Tank come here,' and then they got it. After that, that’s my name now.”

“I'm in the process of changing it legally. Nathaniel, I hate it. I hate it. Do I look like a Nathaniel?”

Dell also said he has gone by the name “Tank” since his earliest days in elementary school.

Tank Dell injuries

Dell suffered a broken fibula during a Week 13 game against the Denver Broncos last year and missed the rest of the season.

During the offseason, the Texans receiver suffered minor injuries in a shootout in Florida. He went to the hospital for treatment but was discharged the next day.

“When it first happened, I went through it because I felt like there was a lot of weight on my shoulders after my (leg) injury,” Dell told The Pivot Podcast. “I just felt like things were happening one after the other. I couldn’t get rid of it, so I was pretty messed up mentally.”

The Texans' second-year receiver also missed his team's Week 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to a pectoral injury, but returned the following week.

Tank Dell's unique connection with CJ Stroud

Dell's connection with his quarterback dates back to their time together at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2023, before either player was drafted.

Stroud threw to his future Texans partner at the combine and enjoyed the chemistry between them while showing off to scouts. Dell said the 2023 No. 2 overall pick told him after the merger that he liked the way Dell ran routes and played football.

When Stroud became Houston's top pick in last year's draft, Dell congratulated him before texting the quarterback, “Tell them they're taking me.” Stroud replied, “I heard you. Trust me.”

Before Day 2 of the draft, the former Houston Cougar said he received a FaceTime call from the quarterback telling the Texans' front office that he would like to play with Dell. Later that day, Houston selected him in the third round.

Although he only played in 11 games last year, Dell was second on the Texans with seven receiving touchdowns when he and Stroud were both rookies. Now he'll be one of Stroud's top targets, lining up in a Thursday Night Football clash with the Jets.

Statistics, real name and more about the Texans wide receiver

Tank Dell stats

Tank Dell's real name

Tank Dell injuries

Tank Dell's unique connection with CJ Stroud

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