After a stellar run with the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Mixon’s arrival in Houston came with sky-high expectations as the Texans looked to take the next step in building around C.J. Stroud. Mixon lived up to the hype last season, delivering another strong campaign even as the team fell short of its potential.
Heading into the 2025 season, the Texans were counting on him to replicate the Pro Bowl form that made him a cornerstone of their offense. Instead, the unit has spent most of the offseason and summer without its star running back, leaving major questions about his availability and the team’s offensive outlook.
What Is the Latest on Joe Mixon’s Injury?
How did Mixon get hurt? That’s the question fans and reporters have been asking for months, and still, nobody outside the organization seems to know for sure. The veteran running back reportedly suffered a non-football-related ankle injury during the offseason, which kept him sidelined throughout training camp and the entire preseason.
While the Texans have kept the exact circumstances under wraps, they confirmed that Mixon’s injury was significant enough to place him on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list to open the year, a designation that required him to miss at least the first four games of the regular season. However, his absence has now stretched to seven games, fueling growing concern about when — or even if — he’ll return to action this season.
When Texans general manager Nick Caserio was asked if Mixon would suit up at all during the 2025 NFL season, he was noncommittal.
“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.”
On Oct. 27, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was asked to provide an update on Mixon’s injury. Unfortunately, he didn’t have anything to add on the running back’s situation.
“Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said he has no update at this time on status of injured running back Joe Mixon,” wrote Aaron Wilson X.
In Mixon’s absence, the Texans’ running back duties have fallen to Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks, with Dameon Pierce a surprising omission. It will be interesting to see how Houston uses that combination to keep the offense humming until Mixon returns.
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 finally returns, it will mark his first full-speed action since last winter, a lengthy layoff that raises understandable concerns for a 29-year-old running back who relies heavily on rhythm, burst, and short-area quickness.
Houston’s ground game has struggled to find consistency in his absence, lacking the balance Mixon brings to complement Stroud’s passing attack. The Texans are averaging 113.4 rushing yards per game and rank 18th in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.
Mixon’s Fantasy Outlook
Here’s what PFSN’s Jason Katz wrote about Mixon’s fantasy outlook, considering the uncertainty around his injury:
“With Mixon sidelined indefinitely, the Texans have gone with a two-man committee featuring Nick Chubb and Woody Marks. Chubb got the first crack at the lead back role, but Marks has severely outplayed him over the past few weeks.”
Caserio praised Chubb’s efficiency during recent interviews, noting he is “a very efficient runner” with “good vision” and “good balance,” while adding that there “haven’t been a lot of negative runs with him on the field.”
MORE: Top 10 NFL Trade Candidates
The former Cleveland Browns standout is very game-script-dependent. In games the Texans lead in, Chubb sees more volume and at least has a chance to produce for fantasy managers. In games the Texans trail, Marks outsnaps and out-touches the veteran by a lot.
Marks has shown flashes of potential and provides more upside in PPR formats due to his pass-catching ability. The rookie has demonstrated versatility as both a runner and receiver, making him an intriguing complement to Chubb’s more traditional running style.
Should Mixon eventually return to full health, he would theoretically resume his workhorse role, given his substantial contract extension signed before the season. However, that possibility grows increasingly unrealistic with each passing week of silence from the organization.
Fantasy managers who drafted Mixon with high expectations should maintain zero hope that he will contribute fantasy value in 2025. His absence has become a season-long reality rather than a temporary setback.
