We are more than halfway through the 2025 campaign and there is still no update on Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon.
Mixon landed on the non-football injury list during the offseason with what has been labeled as a foot injury. However, how Mixon got that foot injury exactly hasn't been revealed.
When the Texans made final cuts in late August, Mixon remained on the list and he has yet to be activated as we enter Week 12.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio said back in October that the team would know more at some point in early November, but that update never came.
Caserio touched on Mixon's situation on Tuesday in what is the latest comments the Texans general manager has made on his running back. Here's what he said.
When is Joe Mixon coming back?
Caserio was a guest on Sports Radio 610 on Tuesday and the update is that there is no update. Mixon's status still remains up in the air, the Texans general manager said.
Caserio went on to add that, while Mixon has made progress at some points in his rehab, there have been other times where that "progress is kind of stalled."
“It’s a very gray situation," he explained. "Joe’s worked at it. There were times where he’s made progress and other times when the progress is kind of stalled.
"Obviously we’re getting pretty late in the game here, I don’t want to establish any sort of expectations. I don’t think we have anymore clarity at this point. He’s out until he’s not."
At this point, it's hard to imagine Mixon will play this season, and for two reasons.
For starters, if we still don't have a concrete answer at this late stage in the season, chances are Mixon isn't going to get right in time to play in 2025. And, if he does, chances are he's still several weeks away.
Furthermore, the Texans are sitting at 5-5 and in the No. 8 spot in the AFC playoff picture. If this team can't remain in the playoff hunt like it is now, there will be no reason to bring Mixon back.
Mixon is under contract through 2026, but the Texans will have a tough decision to make in the offseason, as cutting him would save $8.5 million in cap space.
Houston's willingness to do that will depend on a few things: Mixon's health and the continued emergence of rookie running back Woody Marks.
If Marks can show the Texans he's capable of being the guy, Mixon might be playing elsewhere in 2026.
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