What's the Joe Mixon Injury and When Will He Return?

What They're Saying

Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston: "Among the things the team is working through is a lingering foot-ankle injury for Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, suffered away from the Texans with him progressing from a walking boot, to wearing a brace to having increased mobility over the summer to, now, still being out indefinitely while rehabbing and navigating a somewhat complicated medical issue."

More from Wilson: "The Texans will take their time with managing his recovery and will not rush him back onto the field after missing the entire offseason and the majority of training camp so far."

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

First, let me apologize to all English teachers, copy editors, and other consumers of the language for that dramatic run-on sentence from Wilson. But it's worth taking in to get the process for Mixon to date.

That's the most detailed assessment I've seen of the RB's situation, which has been presented at times as not a big deal and at other times mysterious.

Unfortunately, this update still gives us no more clarity on when Mixon might actually play. So we're left waiting for concrete progress in his return. And until we get that kind of development, we're stuck looking at Mixon merely in backup range for fantasy football drafts -- if you're willing to take him at all.

Mixon sits at the bottom of RB2 range in our non-PPR and half-PPR rankings; outside the top 24 in PPR. And we'll keep monitoring his status.

Other Winners & Losers

Dameon Pierce has split first-team reps with Nick Chubb since returning from the PUP list (quad) in early August. He's not expected to play in Saturday night's preseason game, but bet on him, Chubb, and rookie Woody Marks all garnering touches should Mixon remain out for Week 1.

All three are in play as late-round draft options, though the likely committee keeps any from being truly attractive for early-season use.