“CJ got that DAWG in him!” Tank Dell is again giving props to his Texans’ teammate CJ Stroud. Even if you disagree with Dell, that does not matter because who doesn’t want such a broski who’s ready to bet all his money on your potential? But it’s not just Dell standing up for Stroud; the QB’s got a soft spot for his receiver as well. For instance, the time CJ admitted that he started “tearing up” to hear that Dell got shot. It’s a big thing, sure. At max, we might get troubled hearing that, but crying only comes when you are close to a person. And Dell and CJ are so close that they have heart-to-heart conversations with each other.

Speaking on The Pivot Podcast on August 31st, Dell said, “We have long conversations about our faith and stuff like that. Like we’d be in LA chilling in the hot tub, and we’d be having long conversations.” That’s some next-level bonding over if we are being honest. And in today’s time, the importance of it is a sort of getting lost. Especially because people think it is a weakness. Grit to overcome the battles of life comes when you are bold enough to share deep stuff and that’s what Tank Dell also said.

“People take that for weakness, I feel like. CJ is like—he’s going to talk like that, he’s going to walk like that, and he’s going to show you.” It’s not the first time we have heard Dell sing praises about CJ Stroud. If you are a pigskin fanatic, you’d remember his infamous claim that CJ’s got the opportunity to be the “best quarterback in the league.” But that’s when many reminded the wideout about it being difficult, near impossible for anyone, let alone Stroud, courtesy of the Chiefs’ star QB Patrick Mahomes. However, this time, it was nothing of that sort.

Rather, he’s just warned the league that the league’s going to see “he’s got that dawg in him.” And to be fair, it’s not a vague claim to make. CJ Stroud’s rookie numbers were great. He completed 63.9% of his passes with 23 TDs and 5 INTs in 15 games. On top of the numerical excellence, he also led the league in passing yards per game and posted the lowest interception rate. This earned the Texans’ number 7 offensive rookie of the year and Pro Bowl honors, and they finished eighth in MVP voting. So we can expect fireworks. And with Dell as his receiving corp, Houston would have full faith in their chemistry to come in the clutch.

CJ Stroud prayed for Tank Dell’s safety

Talking about CJ Stroud and Tank Dell’s chemistry, you could say that it has stood the test of time even through a tragic event. In April, a shocking incident at a Florida event venue rocked their world. Security camera footage captured a fight that escalated into a shooting, injuring 10 people, including Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell. Imagine hearing that news—how would you react? Dell and Stroud opened up about this harrowing experience on the Million Dollaz Podcast in June.

Dell, reflecting on the incident, shared his feelings of being in the “wrong place at the wrong time.” He was visiting his mother and reluctantly joined a pool party, pressured by friends. Ever felt that peer pressure? It’s tough to resist. But that day, Dell would have felt, ‘What if I had resisted harder?’ But what’s happened is in the past, and he can only learn from it. No one could have predicted what would unfold, and he found himself caught in the chaos. Not even CJ Stroud, who just prayed for his brother’s recovery.

Stroud was in Philadelphia, enjoying a game between the 76ers and Knicks when the text from Texans PR shook him. “Tank got shot.” His reaction? CJ recalled, “Phone dropped from my hand. I was tearing up, man.” He admitted that he was thinking about the worst-case scenario, and that’s just human instinct, isn’t it? You are worried, and all you have received is one-word news of your best friend getting into such a situation. And the Texans’ QB is human after all. But one with a pure heart. While his instant thought might have been a worst-case scenario, Stroud’s first response? He went into prayer, grateful that his friend survived such a close call.

But this incident forged an even stronger bond between Dell and Stroud. Now, they are at a phase where this connection is what Houston is relying on. Do you think they will be able to translate it on the gridiron in the 2024 season? Let us know!