Texans Open Practice Windows for Dell, Smith, McDonald

The Houston Texans opened 21-day practice windows for wide receiver Tank Dell, offensive tackle Braden Smith, and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald on Wednesday. Head Coach DeMeco Ryans said availability for Sunday's game against Tennessee will depend on how the players respond during the week of practice.

Quick Facts

21-day practice windows opened
Designated to return from injured reserve
Players expected to return to practice
Return availability to be determined for Sunday game
Tank Dell

The Houston Texans formally designated wide receiver Tank Dell, offensive tackle Braden Smith, and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald to return from injured reserve on Wednesday, opening 21-day practice windows for all three players. Head Coach DeMeco Ryans said the team would evaluate how each player responds to practice this week before deciding their availability for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans.

Dell has not played since suffering a severe knee injury—a dislocated knee with multiple torn ligaments—in December 2024. The injury cost him the entire 2025 season. In his first two NFL seasons (2023–2024), Dell recorded 98 receptions for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns before the injury. He also suffered a broken leg in Week 13 of his rookie season. McDonald, a second-round pick in 2026, has been sidelined by an ankle injury, while Smith has been out with a foot injury.

The Texans are 0–4 heading into their matchup with Tennessee. Under NFL rules, the team has 21 days from the designation date to either activate the three players to the active roster or leave them on injured reserve through the end of the season. Ryans emphasized that Sunday's game availability would depend entirely on how the players perform in practice. "Once you open that 21-day window, you have to see how guys respond to practice," Ryans said. "This would be the first time that all those guys were back out practicing."

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#Houston Texans #return #NFL #injured reserve #practice window #knee injury #Tank Dell

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Why This Matters

Three roster contributors designated to return from injured reserve have been given 21-day windows to practice before activation decisions are made. Tank Dell, sidelined since a December 2024 dislocated knee injury, has not played in a year; Braden Smith (foot) and Kayden McDonald (ankle, 2026 draft pick) have also been unavailable. The Texans, 0–4 entering Week 5, must decide within 21 days whether to activate all three to the active roster or return them to injured reserve for the remainder of the season. Head Coach Ryans confirmed that Sunday's game against Tennessee will depend on how each player responds to their first week back in team practice.