Joe Mixon’s arrival in Houston last offseason was highly anticipated, as the Texans wanted to take the next step forward and build a contender around C.J. Stroud. Mixon delivered for the Texans, but the team around him ultimately faltered.
Entering the 2025 NFL season, the Texans were hoping Mixon could replicate the dominant play that earned him his second career Pro-Bowl selection last year. However, the star running back has been sidelined with a mysterious injury. What is the latest on Mixon’s injury status, and how many games will he miss?
What Is the Latest on Joe Mixon’s Injury?
How did Mixon get hurt? Nobody outside the organization seems to know for sure. The star running back suffered a non-football-related injury during the offseason, which sidelined him for all of the team’s training camp and preseason.
While the specific details surrounding the incident remain private, the injury is confirmed to be related to Mixon’s ankle. The Texans recently announced that Mixon will remain on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list to start the year, meaning he must miss at least the first four games of the regular season. Then, Houston has a bye in Week 6, so it’s possible that the earliest Mixon plays this season is in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks.
However, there is a growing concern that Mixon may miss all or most of the season. When Texans general manager Nick Caserio was asked if Mixon will suit up at all during the 2025 NFL campaign, he was noncommittal, which is quite concerning.
“We’ll see. We’ll take it one day at a time,” Caserio said, according to ESPN. “We’ll evaluate those players after four weeks and see where they are in their progression and then make a determination.”
This lines up with a recent post from Jeff Mueller, a doctor of physical therapy and fantasy football injury analyst, who sounded alarms about Mixon’s status.
“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,” he said.
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
In Mixon’s absence, the running back duties will fall on the trio of Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, and rookie Woody Marks. It will be interesting to see how head coach DeMeco Ryans utilizes that combination to keep the offense humming.
Last season, Mixon thrived and became the backbone of the offense, finishing the year with 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 309 receiving yards and a score through the air.
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.
Mixon’s Fantasy Outlook
Mixon battled an ankle injury throughout the summer, and his track record doesn’t inspire confidence. The veteran back has missed three games in two of the past three seasons, not to mention that he’s carrying north of 2,100 NFL touches on his body. That makes him challenging to trust in any capacity for the short term.
The situation worsened on Aug. 25 when Houston announced that their starting back had been transferred to the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List. That ruling eliminates him from consideration for at least the first four games of the 2024-25 season.
The 29-year-old presents additional concerns beyond just health. Mixon has averaged more than 4.1 yards per catch just once in his career, making him more of a volume-based fantasy asset than someone who can impact your lineup with limited work.
However, his consistency tells a different story. With over 1,200 scrimmage yards in four-straight seasons, Mixon stands to be a weekly option once healthy, but you’re playing the long game.
The schedule adds another wrinkle to consider. Houston goes on bye in Week 6 and faces some difficult matchups sprinkled throughout their schedule over the first two months. But if we get a bellcow version of Mixon as winter approaches, he could become a popular name on rosters playing for fantasy glory. Those Week 15-16 home games against the Cardinals and Raiders look particularly appealing for championship runs.
