Houston Texans starting running back Joe Mixon has not played this season, and there continues to be little information from the organization about his status. While he remains bought in, Mixon’s future with the team appears far from settled.
The Texans acquired Mixon in a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2024 offseason, and he was productive in his first season, earning a three-year, $19.7 million contract extension.
Despite being signed through 2026, Texans general manager Nick Caserio could still move on.
Joe Mixon’s Health of Paramount Importance for Texans
GettyJoe Mixon #28 of the Houston Texans looks on against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander fielded a question from a fan for a mailbag article about whether the Texans could release Mixon or fellow tailback Nick Chubb this coming offseason.
While Chubb is on a one-year, $2.5 million deal and will be a free agent after the season, Mixon’s future is “where it gets a little murky.”
Alexander believes Mixon’s future with the Texans depends on his health.
“If healthy next year, Mixon could be a difference-maker for the Texans, and it’d be smart to bring him back. He was one of their best playmakers and a team leader,” Alexander wrote on November 12. “If he’s not, I’d imagine general manager Nick Caserio would consider moving on from him to save money.
“Releasing him could save them $8.5 million for the 2026 season, according to Over the Cap. None of his 2026 salary is guaranteed.”
Alexander noted the Texans could “do right by Mixon,” but that “this is a business.”
Mixon, 29, rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns on 245 carries, adding another 309 yards and 1 TD on 36 receptions. He had also been durable in his career, missing more than two games in a single campaign one time in eight seasons.
Texans Have Remained Mum on Joe Mixon
GettyJoe Mixon #28 of the Houston Texans on the field before facing the Green Bay Packers.
Caserio fueled speculation around Mixon’s situation, offering little when asked if the Texans expected him back this season.
“I think, probably over the next few weeks, we’ll probably have a better idea. He’s making progress. So, I wouldn’t put a particular timetable on it,” Caserio told Texans beat reporters in October. “I think over the next few, three, four weeks, probably get a little more information here. Kind of see how he’s progressing. But taking one day at a time. But I think once we kind of get to that period, probably have a better sense of which way it’s going to go for the duration of the year.”
The timeline that Caserio laid out for a potential update has passed, and there remains no new information about Mixon’s status. Alexander reported at the time that the initial outlook for Mixon was “grim.” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported similar information about Mixon.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was protective of Mixon’s situation.
“I don’t … talk about the injuries much because I’m thinking about the player. It’s different for me. I played the game. So, I can see all the news and media that circulates on everybody speculating. Well, it’s not u speculating. It’s everybody who’s writing the stories are speculating. So, it’s more so of let’s not speculate if you don’t know the true information. And why is everybody so quick to find some story on a player when he’s dealing with whatever he’s dealing with? That’s his personal information,” Ryans told reporters in August.
“That’s Joe’s business, that’s whoever’s business, and don’t talk about it. Let him be at peace. Let him do what he has to do to recover and get back right to play the game that he sacrificed his body, time for. All these guys do that.”
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