The Houston Texans’ long-awaited decision on Joe Mixon may have just been made, and it may have been made for them.
Mixon has yet to so much as take the practice field for the Texans since the end of last season.
No clarity has been provided on what exactly is ailing Mixon beyond an ankle or foot issue. The Texans have left the door open for his return. However, clarity on the situation, at least regarding Mixon’s status for the remainder of the 2025 season, has come from an outside source.
Joe Mixon Not Expected to Play This Season
GettyJoe Mixon #28 of the Houston Texans takes the field before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Sources: #Texans RB Joe Mixon is not expected to play this season as he deals with a foot injury from the offseason,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on X on November 20. “Mixon likely remains on the [Non-Football Injury] list through the season. Meanwhile, Houston moves forward with Nick Chubb and Woody Marks.
“The #Texans have been preparing for this, having signed veteran Nick Chubb in June, and he’s averaging more than 4 yards per carry. Plus, they drafted Woody Marks in the fourth round, trading up to do so.”
Mixon rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2024 season, his first with the Texans, also proving a threat in the passing game with a 36-309-1 line on 52 targets.
However, he also has an extensive injury history, including foot and ankle issues.
Mixon has played full regular-season slates (or only missed time due to resting for the postseason) three times in eight NFL seasons. He has missed at least two games in every other campaign.
Mixon is signed through 2026 on a three-year, $19.7 million contract extension that he signed following the trade from the Cincinnati Bengals last offseason.
Nick Caserio Set Ominous Tone for Joe Mixon
GettyHouston Texans general manager Nick Caserio walks the field before a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio’s most recent comments, calling Mixon’s situation “very gray,” have received renewed attention amid Rapoport’s report on Mixon.
However, outside reports have suggested that this was always the most likely outcome.
“Two sources told the Chronicle in October that the Texans were holding out hoping that Mixon’s foot would respond to treatment but added that he was not expected to return this season,” the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander wrote on November 19.
Even before that, KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson pointed to even earlier comments from Caserio that said the Texans were deciding on Mixon’s future for the “duration of the season.”
“Sources have emphasized to me this is a tough, complicated foot [and/or] ankle issue. He sought outside medical procedures, non-surgical, to try to fix the foot issue. And he was in a walking boot, and then a lace-up deal. And he made some progress over the summer,” Wilson said in October, noting they signed Chubb partly due to Mixon’s injury. “Sources have reiterated to me that he is not being counted on for this season. So, they’ve kind of moved forward.
“Mixon, it doesn’t look good.”
Joe Mixon’s Recovery Process ‘Stalled’
GettyJoe Mixon #28 of the Houston Texans takes the field before facing the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.
The most damning report on Mixon came in the past week from Caserio, who noted that the Texans’ Pro Bowl playmaker was progressing at times and “stalling ” at others, leaving him in his current state of limbo.
“I don’t think we have any more clarity at this point,” Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on November 18. “At this point, he’s out until he’s not. And again, it’s just a very, I would say, gray. Just kind of a lot of ambiguity. Not a lot of clarity. It’s nobody’s fault. This is the reality of the situation. So, I’d say that’s kind of where we are.”
The Texans enter Week 12 ranked 23rd in rushing yards and 22nd in yards per attempt.
They have found a solution to dealing with Mixon’s absence. Still, the Texans would certainly prefer clarity on the situation, let alone the multi-talented RB back on the field.
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