After starting the season on the non-football injury list, Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon is eligible to be activated following the first four games.
Mixon was dealing with a foot injury the entire offseason and wasn't able to take part in training camp or the preseason and there has been zero indication he'll be ready to take the field soon, if at all during the 2025 campaign.
With Mixon's four-week minimum stay on the NFI list having run its course going into Week 5, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was asked about the veteran's status moving forward on Monday and the answer wasn't promising.
Ryans said that Mixon is not ready to return, and Texans beat writer Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston.com painted an ever grimmer picture for Mixon's status.
Joe Mixon injury update
"Texans coach DeMeco Ryans specifically indicated that Joe Mixon is not ready to return at this time," Wilson wrote. "Per sources, it will be much longer, if at all, for Mixon to get back on the field this season."
This is not at all a surprising development, as general manager Nick Caserio cast doubt on Mixon's ability to play in 2025 back in August.
"We'll see. We'll take it one day at a time," he said. "We'll evaluate those players after four weeks and see where they are in their progression and then make a determination."
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported over the weekend that we should get more clarity on Mixon's status by mid-October.
It isn't clear exactly what Mixon is dealing with, but obviously we should not anticipate him playing this season.
Houston has given the reins of the backfield to veteran Nick Chubb, but rookie Woody Marks continues to see his workload increase on a weekly basis.
Marks had his best game as a pro in Week 4, with the fourth-round pick taking 17 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for 50 yards.
Chubb remains the top back in Houston, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Marks overtake him at some point.
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