The Houston Texans have revised Tank Dell’s contract to add $1.5 million in potential earnings, bringing the deal’s maximum value to $3.645 million. The agreement was reached last week before Houston’s Week 1 game against the Buffalo Bills, with the details reported Sept. 11 by sports.yahoo.com.
Dell’s original $1.704 million total includes a $1.145 million salary and a $500,000 signing bonus. He can earn $300,000 by playing at least 30% of the team’s offensive snaps, plus another $300,000 for each additional 5% increase through a 50% share. He also can receive $38,461 for each game in which he is active.
Dell is on injured reserve and has a designation that permits a return, but he will miss at least four games while rehabbing a 2024 knee injury involving a dislocation and multiple ligament tears. His earliest possible return is Houston’s home matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, though no timing has been set.
He must first advance to 11-on-11 practice work, after which the Texans would have 21 days to activate him or keep him on injured reserve for the rest of the 2026 season. General manager Nick Caserio said Sept. 1 that Dell was getting closer but still had more work to complete, including rebuilding confidence.
Dell later attended the Texans’ 2026 season premiere and was described by Brian “Big Sarge” Barfield as being in good spirits and eager to play. Dell, a 2023 third-round pick, joins a receiving group also affected by injuries to Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
