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Tank Dell returns to training pitch just weeks after gunshot injury

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Tank Dell returns to training pitch just weeks after gunshot injury

We’re in the groundbreaking part of the NFL offseason, that part of the May and June schedule where rookies and veterans begin to mix for the first time in drills. We can see body types in some guys who entered the offseason needing a marked improvement in their form. Above all, we remember that CJ Stroud is our quarterback and that big things are on the horizon.

Indeed, Organized Team Activities, affectionately known as OTAs, are upon us this week and next week. These are voluntary workouts without pads. Helmets, jerseys and shorts are the set of choice. There’s not much to take from these practices when it comes to guys playing in the trenches. The number of contacts is very limited.

However, we have a few takeaways from the second session of the OTAs this week, and the first one that we, the media, were able to observe. Here are four big observations from a steamy Tuesday morning:

Tank Dell is back!
This was, for me, THE biggest story of the OTA session. Tank Dell was practicing and looked like the Tank Dell who took the league by storm in his rookie season last year, until his season ended with a broken leg against Denver in Week 13. Dell looked sharp running routes and his hands looked on point. . Basically, it mirrored the workout videos Dell had been releasing over the past few days. The only time Dell held up was in the 11-on-11 drills, but he was active and sparkling in the 7-on-7 drills. That’s great news!

Kenyon Green appears to be in phenomenal shape
To say Green’s first two seasons in the NFL were a bit star-studded would be an understatement. In his rookie season in 2022, the Texas A&M left guard was banged up and when he was on the field, he performed poorly. In 2023, he never got on the field in the regular season, as he went on injured reserve during training camp and missed the entire season. Even when healthy, Green’s physique was a bit of a concern, as he was a bit stocky. Fast forward to Tuesday, and Green appears to be in phenomenal shape:

I had written off Green. If he becomes a player this season, it will be a massive move on the Texans offensive line.

We’re going to count on Dameon Pierce
While most of the remaining Texans from the Lovie Smith era actually improved as players in 2023, Pierce was the rare exception. The Texans’ best offensive player in 2022, Pierce never got out of first gear in Bobby Slowik’s offense, and ultimately all the carries went to Devin Singletary heading into the playoffs. In fact, Pierce didn’t make a single offensive play in the loss to the Ravens. However, based on the formations and combinations we saw on offense Tuesday, Pierce is still considered an integral part of this offense. The Texans are counting on him to rein in Slowik’s offense in Ryans and Slowik’s second year, and solidify his role as Joe MIxon’s backup at running back.

Attendance check – who was NOT there?
Keep in mind that these OTA sessions are indeed voluntary, and if you’re a longtime Texans fan who feels like a guillotine might fall on the neck of someone who misses these sessions, be aware that DeMeco Ryans is not a fan of achievement at all. veterans who attend like some Texas coaches from previous generations (cough, O’Brien, cough). That said, the following players were absent from Tuesday’s practice:

WR Stefon Diggs
LT Laremy Tunsil
RT Tytus Howard
RG Shaq Mason
BY Danielle Hunter
BY Dénico Autry

So we’re well over 90 percent attendance, which is pretty darn good. The Texans will practice again on Thursday, then hold three more OTA sessions next week, with media allowed to attend on Thursday, May 30.

Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6-10 a.m. weekdays. Also follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergaston Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.

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