The Houston Texans rolled the dice on Joe Mixon in 2024 and hit the jackpot. He became part of a powerful running game that helped carry them to the playoffs after losing a chunk of their receiving corps, keeping things close with the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs.
The Texans then added former Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb to create a powerful one-two punch, designed to help keep the pressure off quarterback C.J. Stroud. However, that masterplan has been thrown into serious doubt.
What’s Joe Mixon’s Status Heading into the Regular Season?
Unfortunately, Mixon was sidelined the entire preseason and training camp with a foot injury, and it remains unclear when he may return. Mixon was recently placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and will miss at least the first four games of the season.
Mixon delivered a stellar campaign in 2024, rushing for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 36 receptions for 309 yards and another touchdown.
The 29-year-old running back maintained that excellence through the playoffs, grinding out 106 yards and a touchdown in a Wild Card victory against the Los Angeles Chargers, then following up with 88 yards and a touchdown in the Division Round loss to the Chiefs.
Mixon’s Status Up in the Air After Latest Concerning Update
According to Jeff Mueller, a fantasy football injury analyst, things are not optimistic for Mixon’s availability ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
“I have received info from two different people,” wrote Mueller on X (formerly known as Twitter). “That info has been enough for me to fully remove Joe Mixon from my board for 2025.”
In his absence, Chubb is expected to step into the number one role, thrusting him into a spotlight he hasn’t occupied since his injury.
Can Nick Chubb Still Be the Texans’ Lead Back?
Chubb, 29, is entering his eighth year in the NFL with significant questions surrounding his readiness. As recently as 2023, he was considered one of the best running backs in football, but he suffered a devastating knee injury just two games into that season that changed everything.
He returned in 2024 and played eight games, carrying the ball 102 times for 332 yards and three touchdowns while adding five receptions for 31 yards and another score. While those numbers show he can still contribute, they’re a far cry from his dominant pre-injury production.
Whether Chubb can still be “that guy” is up for debate, but the Texans are about to find out in the most critical way possible. Behind him in the depth chart are veteran Dameon Pierce and Woody Marks. Pierce brings a downhill running style, while Marks offers dynamic talent that works well in space and passing situations.
Regardless of the depth options, Mixon’s absence throws the Texans’ backfield into complete flux. The plan was for Mixon to handle the heavy lifting as the lead back, with Chubb keeping the running game fresh through rotation. Now, the Texans will spend the start of the season discovering if their stable of running backs can carry the offensive load without their intended centerpiece.
The Texans do have other weapons surrounding Stroud to ease the burden. They added Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Christian Kirk. The key challenge becomes finding a way to keep the ship afloat until Mixon can re-enter the mix and give the Texans the devastating one-two punch in the backfield they originally envisioned.
Mixon’s Fantasy Outlook
Joe Mixon headed into the 2025 offseason as the undisputed lead back in the Texans’ offense. The former Bengals star quietly tied Josh Jacobs in fantasy points per game (17.2) last season, but finished 11 spots lower at RB17. Ankle injuries saw Mixon miss three games and limited him in three more. Wildly, from Weeks 1-15, before he played through his second injury, Mixon was the RB2 overall in fantasy points per game (20.2).
Unfortunately, injury has struck again for the former Bengal, ruling him out for at least the first four games of the season, after the team decided against activating him before cut-down day. Mixon should still be the team’s RB1 when he returns, but there are no guarantees around when that will be.
Outgoing OC Bobby Slowik was replaced by Nick Caley, who joins Houston from a Rams team that leaned heavily on RB Kyren Williams in 2024. Workhorse usage is rare in today’s NFL, but Mixon could have a huge role if he can get himself back on the field.
The Texans star’s ADP will be hard to gauge after the team announced his PUP designation, as the player will likely slip another round or so before the season starts. Mixon is a massive risk, but it could pay off handsomely if he can return in Week 5. Your starting running backs should be on your roster by the time you need to make a decision on Mixon, making him a worthwhile stash with league-winning potential.
