Andre Johnson Reacts to Houston Texans' Tank Dell: 'Damn, Where's This Kid From!?'
Tank Dell is "definitely different,'' according to the greatest difference-making receiver in Houston Texans history.
"It's like, Damn, where is this kid from?'' said Andre Johnson of the Texas' spectacular rookie, who is off to such a great start in Houston that he is threatening all the rookie franchise records set by ...
Andre Johnson.
Johnson, of course, knows "where this kid is from.'' Dell is a Houston native who played at the University of Houston and was drafted here No. 69th overall. In tandem with fellow rookie C.J. Stroud - both of them surely destined to make the NFL's All-Rookie team, and maybe to collect grander honors than that - Houston's offense has an explosiveness to it that reminds of when Johnson was here, and when DeAndre Hopkins was here.
Yes, Dell's numbers really do put him in that elite category.
Dell has 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns so far for the 6-5 Texans, surprise contenders for the AFC playoffs. The seven TDs puts him above Johnson. Next comes yardage, as Johnson holds the team's rookie record with 976 yards ... with Dell just 267 yards shy of that.
A 1,000-yard season for a 5-9, 165-pound rookie third-round pick? That is obviously in play.
“Everybody in the NFL is good,” Dell said. “Everybody excels at certain things. Me being fast and quick and knowing how to be a separator, that’s my God-given ability. I work on that and God gave me that. That’s what I try to use to the best of my advantage.''
Johnson, who this week was named a Hall of Fame finalist, sees things the same way.
"The creativity with the route-running, the separation he creates,'' Johnson said. It's different. It's definitely different. ... I only see him getting better and better as he learns and as he grows. Very excited for the kid.''
