Joe Mixon proved to be a revelation for the Houston Texans after being jettisoned by the Cincinnati Bengals last March. He gave the two-time reigning AFC South champions a much-needed backfield boost en route to a Divisional Round appearance and his second Pro Bowl nod. However, with the veteran running back dealing with a nagging ankle/foot issue for months, it's been a tale of two stories this offseason.
Vibes surrounding Mixon's health (or lack thereof) have been off since he missed organized team activities (OTAs) and was spotted in a walking boot. After not practicing all year, the Texans moved him to the reserve/non-football injury list, sidelining the bell cow for the season's first four games. Things have reached a stage where Houston's general manager, Nick Caserio, is unsure of his present status, let alone the entire upcoming NFL campaign.
Texans GM Nick Caserio sounds alarms in Houston with latest Joe Mixon injury update
When asked if Mixon would return at any point this season, Caserio was "noncommittal," per DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. Houston's top decision-maker didn't give any "clarity" on when Texans fans can expect their standout tailback to rejoin the mix. Houston signing former All-Pro Nick Chubb despite downplaying the matter foreshadowed an ill-fated update, though this is quickly becoming a "code red" situation.
"We'll see. We'll take it one day at a time," Caserio said on Mixon's availability when recently addressing the media. "We'll evaluate those players after four weeks and see where they are in their progression and then make a determination."
That's not exactly the answer the Houston faithful were hoping for from Caserio, to say the least. Going from a designation that forces Mixon to miss a minimum of four contests to not knowing whether he'll be ready at all in 2025 is alarming. The ex-Bengals star has had a "tough and complicated rehab," according to KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson.
Oddsmakers have Houston as considerable betting favorites to claim a third consecutive divisional crown. But the Texans' offense is in danger of becoming extremely one-dimensional without Mixon, which could close the gap between them and their rivals. They don't have the depth to withstand his absence, let alone replace him outright.
Texans are in jeopardy of ceding AFC South high ground if Joe Mixon doesn't play in 2025
Mixon hasn't taken a handoff from Houston's franchise quarterback, C.J. Stroud, in a "legitimate practice setting or game" since Jan. 18, as Bien-Aime highlights. Meanwhile, Chubb's burst has unsurprisingly been "nowhere to be found." 2022 fourth-round flameout Dameon Pierce, third-down back/special teamer Dare Ogunbowale, and fifth-round rookie Woodty Marks don't offer much better alternatives.
The Texans ostensibly feel good about Marks, considering they traded a 2026 third-round pick to select him on Day 3 of this year's draft. Nonetheless, he projects to be a pass-catching specialist early on. Putting too much on the USC product's plate too quickly could not only hamper his development but also put Houston in an unenviable spot.