The Houston Texans’ reliance on Joe Mixon from last season won’t be the case in the early going of 2025.
He’s on the physically unable to perform list and will miss the first four weeks of the season, pushing Nick Chubb into the spotlight as the Texans’ new RB1.
But it could be worse than expected, based on the latest update from the Texans’ general manager, Nick Caserio.
Speaking with reporters, Caserio wouldn’t affirm that Mixon would get onto the field at all this season, via ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime.
“We’ll see. We’ll take it one day at a time,” Caserio said when asked if Mixon would play this season. “We’ll evaluate those players after four weeks and see where they are in their progression and then make a determination.”
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Caserio is likely just trying to avoid anything that could look to have been misleading later on.
It’s still striking, though. Missing four games is a lot different than missing 17.
If Mixon’s ankle injury was just a garden variety ankle issue, it seems like it’d be no problem to confirm that he’ll be back at some point in the 2025 season.
But now? The door has been left open for doubt.
Mixon ran for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024, then added 194 yards in two playoff games.
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The Texans play the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, the first game Mixon could be back for.
But if he’s out longer, it’ll be a big burden for the likes of Chubb, Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale. Houston also has fourth-round rookie Woody Marks.
They’d love to get Mixon back to lead that group, but there’s a lot of uncertainty at the moment.
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