Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon spent the 2024 season trying to prove adages about his position wrong. In his age-28 season, he made Houston look sharp for acquiring and extending him, racking up over 1,000 yards and a Pro Bowl selection.
However, a foot injury derailed his 2025 campaign before it could get started, limiting the Texans’ offense and forcing fans to reckon with how money is being spent on a position that’s given the team minimal production.
Joe Mixon Contract and Salary
Mixon was traded to Houston from the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of the 2024 season for a seventh-round pick, an indictment of his looming free agency. The Texans immediately mitigated those concerns by signing him to a three-year, $25.5 million extension (per Spotrac).
The deal included $16 million in guarantees and, for a season, appeared to be a win for Houston. Mixon generated 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground and added another 309 yards and a score through the air. He was the key piece of a playoff backfield and helped make life easier for quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Things obviously haven’t gone as well for Mixon in 2025. He’s yet to appear in a game and is now officially out for the rest of the season. While Houston could reach the playoffs, it will be without their star running back.
Entering Week 12’s Thursday Night Football clash with the Buffalo Bills, Mixon’s 21-day practice window has not been triggered.
MORE: What Happened to Joe Mixon? Breaking Down the Texans Star’s Mysterious Injury Amid Cryptic Updates
This season, Mixon will make $7 million in salary with a $2 million signing bonus. There are also $411,765 in roster/game bonuses available if he sees the field. Ultimately, he’ll cost the Texans $9.4 million against the cap.
Mixon ranked 20th in PFSN’s Running Back Impact metric last season, while Nick Chubb and Woody Marks rank 37th and 40th this season, respectively, in his absence.
Mixon’s Net Worth
While Mixon’s net worth is not clear, his career earnings can provide a helpful snapshot.
To date, Mixon has earned $55.7 million from his NFL contracts. The Bengals signed him to a four-year, $5.45 million contract after drafting him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. When he ascended to stardom, Cincinnati locked him up to a four-year, $48 million deal, among the top of the market for running backs at the time.
The Bengals eventually renegotiated Mixon’s deal with the hopes of lessening his cap hit and bracing for declines in his future performance. Agreeing to a two-year, $11.5 million figure, the writing was on the wall. One year after that negotiation, Mixon was traded to the Houston Texans.
Given his absence and the $10.5 million cap hit awaiting the Texans in 2026, they may cut Mixon this offseason, incurring $2 million in dead cap but saving $8.5 million.
Houston Texans’ Insights for Week 12
Team: Houston has won two straight one-possession games. All five of the Texans’ losses have been by eight points or fewer.
QB: The Texans have won two straight games with Davis Mills as the starter. It’s only the second time Houston has won back-to-back games with Mills starting. Mills started 26 games in 2021 and 2022.
Offense:Â Houston has scored 26 points or more in three of five home games. The Texans have scored 19 points or fewer in four of five road games.
Defense:Â The Texans have allowed 16.3 points per game and 258.1 total offense yards per game. The Bills have averaged 29.2 points per game and 387.4 total yards of offense per game this season.
Fantasy: Nico Collins has seen at least 25% of the targets funneled his way in three straight games and has multiple deep looks in four straight. It’s been a slow burn, but he’s trending up at the right time.
