Tank Dell’s revised agreement with the Houston Texans could bring his total earnings to $3.645 million, up from $1.704 million. The contract, reached last week before Houston’s Week 1 game against Buffalo, adds $1.5 million to his deal, including a $1.145 million salary and a $500,000 signing bonus. The details were reported Sept. 11 by sports.yahoo.com.
Dell can earn $300,000 by playing at least 30% of the Texans’ offensive snaps, plus another $300,000 for each additional 5% through 50%. He also is eligible for $38,461 for every game in which he is active.
Dell remains on injured reserve under a designation that permits a return, so he will miss at least four games while rehabbing a 2024 knee injury involving a dislocation and multiple ligament tears. The Dallas Cowboys game in Houston is the first possible return, but no timetable is certain.
Dell must first reach 11-on-11 practice work, after which Houston would have 21 days to activate him. Otherwise, he would stay on injured reserve for the remainder of the 2026 season. General manager Nick Caserio said Sept. 1 that Dell was approaching a return but still needed more work and confidence.
Dell later attended the Texans’ 2026 season premiere and Brian “Big Sarge” Barfield described him as being in good spirits and eager to play. The 2023 third-round pick joins a receiving group affected by injuries to Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
