HOUSTON — Joe Mixon’s future with the Texans is still unclear as the running back missed the entire season due to what general manager Nick Caserio described as a “freak” foot injury on Wednesday.
“We haven’t seen Joe for a while, so at some point we will check in with him and evaluate his situation, and based on that information, we will determine his status,” Caserio stated.
The Texans were tight-lipped about Mixon’s recovery process throughout the season, initially revealing in training camp that he had sustained a foot injury outside of the facility during the offseason.
When asked for more information on his injury Wednesday, Caserio provided some details but still refrained from disclosing the specific nature of the injury.
“It wasn’t like he was riding a snowmobile or anything insane,” Caserio explained. “It was more of a medical issue that never … honestly, didn’t improve as much as everyone had hoped. I’m not trying to dodge the question; that’s just how it is. He didn’t do anything reckless. This was just a freak occurrence.”
The Texans advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs for the third consecutive year, but their offense struggled significantly with Mixon sidelined for the entire season. This came after he rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns in his debut year with the team in 2024. He still has one year left on a three-year, $27 million contract extension he signed after moving from the Bengals, where he played for seven seasons.
Caserio mentioned that they were uncertain about Mixon’s status throughout the year but remained hopeful for his return.
“It was a very unusual situation,” he commented. “I don’t think anyone had clear visibility from the beginning of the year until now. I would say Joe has worked incredibly hard to get back on the field; unfortunately, it just never came to pass. We’ll likely assess where he stands in the offseason concerning next year.”
With Mixon absent this season, the Texans leaned on rookie Woody Marks and Nick Chubb. Marks, a fourth-round draft pick, topped the team with 703 rushing yards, while Chubb contributed 506 yards. The Texans faced challenges running the ball in their recent loss to New England, managing only 48 yards.
When specifically asked if they think Mixon’s condition will improve enough for him to be ready for training camp, Caserio said it was too early to make that call.
“We will see. I’m certainly not qualified to play doctor, so I’ll leave that to the medical professionals,” he remarked. “Once we have more clarity and information, we’ll assess the situation.”
