Joe Mixon ruled out for at least 4 games to start 2025 NFL season
By Derek Hryn
Published:
Houston Texans star running back Joe Mixon will be sidelined for at least the first four games of the 2025 season after failing to meet the team’s Tuesday 4 p.m. ET activation deadline from the non-football injury list.
Mixon, 29, suffered an ankle injury over the offseason and will now be moved to the reserve/non-football injury list.
While the absence was anticipated, this is still a huge loss for the Texans to begin the regular season. A Pro Bowler in 2024, Mixon rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns in his debut campaign in Houston.
In Mixon’s absence, the Texans will likely bump Nick Chubb into the RB1 role, with Dameon Pierce mixing in for opportunities, along with rookie fourth-round draft pick Woody Marks.
Chubb is expected to lead the Texans backfield early in the season, but there’s ample talent behind him in the rotation if he doesn’t perform. It’ll be interesting to see how everything shakes out before Mixon’s targeted return in Week 5, when Houston host the Baltimore Ravens.
Until then, the Texans will rely on their RB depth, along with C.J. Stroud’s arm to maintain offensive balance as they open the season on the road against the Los Angeles Rams.
Mixon was a second-round pick out of Oklahoma back in the 2017 NFL Draft.
