We are another week closer to Joe Mixon being eligible for activation from the NFI list. But how realistic is that outcome? The Houston Texans’ RB1 missed all of training camp with a foot injury and the team has been eerily silent on his status. For fantasy football managers who drafted him, what are the prospects of getting Mixon back anytime soon?
Joe Mixon Injury Update
Mixon remains on the reserve/non-football injury list, which comes with a mandatory four-game absence. However, there has been no indication that the veteran running will be activated when first eligible.
The injury occurred during the offseason while Mixon was working out away from the team facility. The specific details surrounding the incident remain private, but the injury is confirmed to be related to his foot and ankle. What initially appeared to be a minor issue has developed into something far more serious, keeping him sidelined for all of training camp and the entire preseason.
Physical therapy specialist Jeff Mueller, who provides injury analysis for fantasy football, has shared concerning details about the nature of Mixon’s condition. According to Mueller’s study, the best available information suggests this is an aggravation of prior injuries rather than requiring surgery.
Joe Mixon cont –
Best info we have still doesn’t suggest that he had surgery➡️ aggravation of prior injury.
He had the Right high ankle/deltoid in September, Left ankle in December.Was spotted end of May with a brace on his left ankle.
Good info attached from Aaron Wilson.… https://t.co/pnxt72IOdN pic.twitter.com/L2vxJMzE8F— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) July 26, 2025
The earliest Mixon could potentially return would be Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens on October 5. With a Week 6 bye, we can safely conclude the team will give Mixon those extra days off.
Mixon suffered a right high ankle/deltoid injury in September and a left ankle injury in December of last season, and was spotted wearing a brace on his left ankle as early as May.
Two weeks into the season, fantasy managers still lack concrete answers on Mixon’s status. Head coach DeMeco Ryans has consistently declined to provide meaningful updates on Mixon’s progress, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his recovery timeline.
Most troubling for fantasy managers was Ryan’s recent press conference comments that seemed to reference Mixon in the past tense. “We’re rolling with the guys that are here,” Ryans said. “That’s the main thing. We miss Joe, miss his energy, and his enthusiasm and everything he brought to the team.” The phrasing raised immediate red flags among observers about whether Mixon would return at all this season.
DeMeco Ryans used the past tense when discussing Joe Mixon yesterday, is this a clue about his status in 2025? pic.twitter.com/0UJT4oykIJ
— Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) September 12, 2025
Texans general manager Nick Caserio has remained equally noncommittal when pressed about Mixon’s availability for the entire 2025 season. “We’ll see. We’ll take it one day at a time,” Caserio said. “We’ll evaluate those players after four weeks and see where they are in their progression and then make a determination.”
The earliest Mixon could potentially return would be Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens on October 5. However, with Houston’s Week 6 bye following immediately after, the absolute earliest realistic return date would be Week 7. The fact that Mixon hasn’t been seen working on a rehab field or participating in individual workouts suggests the star running back remains nowhere near returning to game action.
Joe Mixon Fantasy Outlook
Mixon entered the 2025 season coming off an outstanding debut campaign with Houston. In his first year with the Texans, he rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns on 245 carries while adding 36 catches for 309 yards and another score. He led the team in total touchdowns during the regular season (12) and playoffs (2), establishing himself as the offense’s backbone.
With Mixon sidelined indefinitely, the Texans have tried to fill his shoes with a hodgepodge of running backs. In Week 2, Houston officially threw in the towel on Dameon Pierce, making him a healthy inactive. They rolled with Nick Chubb as their lead runner and rookie Woody Marks as the passing-down back.
The former Cleveland Brown will continue handling the early-down work, but he has looked sluggish since returning from his own serious injury issues. He had a whopping 12 carries for 18 yards before breaking loose for a 25-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter of the Texans’ Monday night loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Nick Chubb has the Texans on top!
TBvsHOU on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/CmUmPdIa3A— NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2025
Chubb will continue to live in the 12-15 touch range. The once elite back went to four straight Pro Bowls from 2019-2022 before injuries derailed his career. However, no one on this roster threatens to steal Mixon’s job in the long term. When healthy, the 29-year-old remains the undisputed lead back in the Texans’ offense.
If Mixon can return and return healthy, he will get his complete job back in what should be a workhorse role under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley. The former Rams assistant coached a system that leaned heavily on running back Kyren Williams in 2024, suggesting Mixon could see significant usage upon his return.
Fantasy managers who drafted Mixon don’t have to burn a roster spot as he remains IR eligible, but will have to sit on him for an indeterminate amount of time. The uncertainty surrounding his injury makes him a massive risk despite the potential league-winning upside if he returns healthy. It is still possible, if not likely, that he doesn’t play in 2025.
