Joe Mixon Likely Done for the Season as Texans Lose Key RB

The Houston Texans are getting ready to finish the 2025 season without star running back Joe Mixon. After leading the team in rushing last year and making the Pro Bowl, Mixon has not played a single snap this season because of a strange and confusing foot injury.

This week, NFL Media reported that Joe Mixon is “not expected” to return in 2025. It’s a tough blow for Houston, especially since Mixon looked like he would be a big part of the offense again.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio spoke about Mixon’s situation during a radio interview, but the update wasn’t encouraging. Caserio said the injury has been “a very gray situation,” meaning the team still doesn’t fully understand what’s going on. He explained that Mixon has had some good days but also setbacks where the foot simply didn’t improve.

It is late a game here, We are, said Caserio. It is at this stage that he is out until he is not.

The problems began back in May when Joe Mixon missed OTAs and minicamp. At first, it looked like an ankle issue, but once training camp started, the Texans placed him on the non-football injury list. That showed he actually hurt his foot while away from the team. By late July, reports said he would miss a big chunk of the preseason.

Houston stayed quiet through August and decided to keep Joe Mixon on the NFI list for the start of the season, which forced him to miss at least four games. Even when he was eligible to return in Week 5, he still wasn’t ready. Through October, both Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans said there was no clear timetable for when he might play again.

Now, in late November, it’s clear Joe Mixon will likely miss the entire season.

To replace him, the Texans have used veteran Nick Chubb—who signed in June—and rookie Woody Marks. Chubb leads the team in rushing, but Marks has started the last two games and is beginning to find his rhythm. Even so, losing Mixon has hurt the offense. He ran for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns last year and was a big reason the Texans made the playoffs.

Houston started the season 0-3 but has battled back to 5-5. Still, Mixon would have been a huge help, especially heading into their Week 12 matchup against a Bills defense that struggles against the run.

As for Mixon’s future, it’s unclear what comes next. The 29-year-old hasn’t spoken publicly about the injury, and the team continues to give very limited details. With so much uncertainty around his recovery, it’s fair to wonder how long it will take before he can play again—or if he will return at all this season.

For now, the Texans are preparing to move forward without their top running back.

Also Read: James Franklin Shares Why He Picked Virginia Tech Over Other Schools