Fantasy football drafts are heating up, and staying on top of the injury landscape is vital for managers as they plan for the first few weeks.
Running back Joe Mixon’s foot has become a worry for the Houston Texans after a frustrating, non-football injury has kept him out of all team activities. What is his current status, and what can fantasy managers expect if he’s sidelined to start the season?
What Is the Latest Joe Mixon Injury Update?
Mixon has been plagued by lower-leg issues for several seasons, including a significant Lisfranc foot injury that cut short his 2020 campaign and recurring ankle sprains since. This summer, he suffered another setback while training away from the team, resulting in an injury unrelated to football activity.
Mixon was placed on the Texans’ non-football injury list before camp started and has yet to participate in a single practice, missing OTAs, minicamp, and every training camp session so far. Now, with the regular season two weeks away, the Texans have placed him on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List, meaning he must miss the first four games of the regular season.
Mixon finally ditched the walking boot for an ankle brace, but he has not taken the field and hasn’t had live reps with his teammates in months. It remains to be seen if he’ll return for Week 5 or if this injury will sideline even longer.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans has been extremely cryptic, saying, “Nothing’s changed with Joe. He’s still training, and we’ll bring him back when the time is right.”
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Jeff Mueller, a doctor of physical therapy and fantasy football injury analyst, sounded alarms about Mixon’s status recently. He tweeted: “I have received info from two different people. That info has been enough for me to fully remove Joe Mixon from my board for 2025.”
I have received info from two different people.
That info has been enough for me to fully remove Joe Mixon from my board for 2025. https://t.co/kzUBW3jETe— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) August 15, 2025
This lines up with the latest report from Texans insider Aaron Wilson, who described the injury as “complicated” while adding that Mixon is “out indefinitely.”
When Mixon does return, it will mark his first full-speed work since last winter. That layoff adds an extra layer of concern for a 29-year-old running back whose role is built on rhythm and short-area quickness.
Joe Mixon Fantasy Outlook
Mixon is coming off a terrific season in his first year with the Texans, rushing for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 309 receiving yards. However, his return timetable is completely unclear right now, making it hard to take him in fantasy football leagues.
There’s a legit chance that the Texans are keeping this under wraps and that it’s even more serious than they’re letting on.
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The best bet to make in this backfield right now is to throw some darts on RBs Nick Chubb, Woody Marks, or Dameon Pierce. My preferred target is Chubb because he has a proven track record. Perhaps a year further removed from his torn ACL will allow him to find his form.
Considering these circumstances, I recommend completely avoiding Mixon right now. Don’t buy the dip in this scenario.
