The Houston Texans received a disappointing injury update involving the status of running back Joe Mixon.
Joe Mixon Injury Update
Sources: #Texans RB Joe Mixon is not expected to play this season as he deals with a foot injury from the offseason.
Mixon likely remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list through the season. Meanwhile, Houston moves forward with Nick Chubb and Woody Marks. pic.twitter.com/gr7E4QSIEO
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 20, 2025
Mixon’s foot injury has taken a turn for the worse.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mixon will remain on the team’s non-football injury list through the regular season. This means that Mixon’s 2025 season is over.
Mixon’s foot injury raised eyebrows this summer when the Texans sent him to the non-football injury list before the start of the regular season. The hope was that Mixon would return at some point during the 2025 season.
That never happened, as Mixon has played zero snaps this season.
Mixon entered the 2025 season as the team’s No. 1 running back. The 29-year-old had a fantastic 2024 campaign, rushing for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns. Mixon was named to the Pro Bowl.
Mixon’s injury history also showed up last season, as the running back only played 14 games.
After spending his first seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Mixon was traded to the Texans in March 2024. The day after being traded, Mixon signed a three-year, $27 million contract extension, keeping him on the team through the 2026 season.
Mixon will be 30 at the start of the 2026 season. That’s usually the age where running backs decline. It’s fair to question if Mixon will ever be the same again after this injury.
Mixon, a three-down back thanks to his versatility as a wide receiver, might not be a bell-cow running back anymore. Because of his age and health, the Texans may choose to cut Mixon in the offseason.
If the Texans cut Mixon after the start of the 2026 league year, they could save $8.5 million in cap space. Mixon’s $2 million dead cap hit is extremely manageable.
Texans’ Plans at Running Back
See the movie on the big board tonight 🍿 pic.twitter.com/1I9KP5U8J0
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 20, 2025
With Mixon out for the season, who will the Texans turn to at running back?
This season, Houston has relied on two running backs: Nick Chubb and Woody Marks.
Chubb, the former Cleveland Brown who once had four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and Marks, a fourth-round rookie out of USC, each have 99 carries this season.
Chubb has more yards than Marks — 419 to 348. Each running back has two rushing touchdowns, but Marks also has two receiving touchdowns.
The Texans (5-5) kick Week 12 off with a huge Thursday night matchup against the Buffalo Bills (7-3). For the second consecutive week, Davis Mills will start at quarterback for the injured C.J. Stroud.
The Texans are 5-5 and one game behind the Jacksonville Jaguars for the last playoff spot.
