No one seems to know what exactly is wrong with the nagging ankle/foot issue that has plagued Joe Mixon for several months. The Houston Texans have kept coy about his health, or lack thereof, for the most part. However, each update is vaguer than the last, with the latest news cycle serving as a prime example.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans kept pretending like the star running back his team leaned on throughout 2024 doesn't exist when addressing the media on Monday. He declined to answer regarding Mixon's status when asked about players set to be activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list -- twice.
Ryans continuing to dance around whether Mixon will join the Texans in 2025 paints an ominous picture. To make matters worse, KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson reported that it will be "much longer, if at all," before the two-time Pro Bowler returns. The tea leaves suggest Houston won't be getting much-needed offensive reinforcements anytime soon, leaving them with a glaringly obvious pivot: unleash Woody Marks.
Latest Joe Mixon injury update leaves Texans no choice but to hand backfield keys to rookie RB Woody Marks
Veteran Nick Chubb took the lion's share of the backfield opportunities in Houston's first three games. He failed to do much of anything despite assuming a meaningful workload outside of a touchdown that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ostensibly let him score. The Texans recognized his shortcomings and took action in their 26-0 Week 4 win over the Tennessee Titans, handing the keys to Marks.
Marks was thrust into a head-of-committee role in Houston's blowout victory against the Titans and proved capable of handling the responsibility. He saw more touches in this divisional clash (21) than he did across his inaugural three contests as a pro (14). This year's No. 116 overall pick capitalized on the increased usage, giving the Texans a ground game element they've sorely lacked thus far this season.
We got a taste of Marks' dual-threat skill set versus the Titans. He ran for 69 yards and a score on 17 carries, adding four catches, 50 yards and another end zone trip through the air. His strong collegiate receiving profile and explosive running helped Houston get off the schneid and avoid a dreaded 0-4 start.
Chubb took a notable backseat to Marks in the Texans' defeat of the Titans. The latter 's 48.6 rush attempt and 43.8 percent route rate are far greater than the former's respective 37.1 and 21.9 percent clips. It was a clear strategy shift from Weeks 1-3 and a trend that should continue moving forward, especially with Mixon's murky situation.
Note: Stats courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite ($).