The Houston Texans are taking a next-man-up approach after learning that star wide receiver Stefon Diggs will be out for the remainder of the NFL season.
Against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Diggs attempted to make a cut on a pass route when he suffered a non-contact knee injury. The 30-year-old promptly grabbed at his knee and began hopping on one leg before being taken out of the game.
Two days later, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed the worst, announcing that Diggs tore his ACL. “Unfortunately, he tore his ACL, so he’ll be out for the year, he told reporters. It really hurts our team to hear that news, and hes been such an important part to our team.
Everything that he brought – not only on the field but off the field – the energy, the leader, the way he worked every single day. He brought a lot to our team.
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A lot of guys have to step up, pick up the slack, but definitely praying for him to have a speedy, successful recovery. Its definitely a blow to us.
In the absence of Diggs, the Texans will now turn to Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie III to carry the load on offense. Ryans expressed confidence that the crop of wide receivers will be up to the task – in particular Dell.
“Tank just has to be Tank, he asserted. Tanks been an explosive player in college, at the [University of Houston] he was explosive, hes been explosive for us. So Tank just has to be Tank.
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On the heels of a dominant rookie campaign, Dell has struggled to find similar success during his second year in the NFL. Through the Texans first eight weeks of the season, he reeled in 24 catches for 229 yards and two touchdowns while only eclipsing 60 receiving yards in a game once.
Earlier this month, Dell failed to record a single catch or target against the Green Bay Packers – marking the first time in his NFL career that he didnt catch a pass in a game that he played. Despite the poor performance, Ryans insisted that better days were to come for the 25-year-old.
With Tank, he just has to keep going, Ryans said, per KPRCs Aaron Wilson. I believe in Tank, believe hell be able to make some big-time explosive plays for us. He just has to keep going and he will do that. I have all the faith in Tank.
Luckily for the Texans, reinforcements will additionally be on the way soon. Wide receiver Nico Collins – who was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury he sustained in Week 5 versus the Buffalo Bills – is expected to be ready to suit up for Houstons Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
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