The Houston Texans are heading into the offseason with a lot to evaluate-starting with the future of veteran running back Joe Mixon. After a playoff run that came up short, head coach DeMeco Ryans made it clear the team has some tough decisions ahead, and Mixon’s status is one of them.
When asked whether Mixon would be part of the team’s plans moving forward, Ryans didn’t offer much clarity.
“As of right now, I don't know that,” he said.
That uncertainty speaks volumes, especially when you consider the context.
Mixon missed the entire 2025 season due to a foot injury, a tough blow after a strong 2024 campaign where he racked up 1,325 total yards and found the end zone 12 times. He was a key piece in the Texans' offense that year, showing the kind of versatility and toughness that earned him his second Pro Bowl nod-his first came back in 2021 with the Bengals.
But in 2025, with Mixon sidelined, the Texans turned to a committee approach featuring Woody Marks and veteran Nick Chubb. Neither back lit up the stat sheet, but they held things together.
Marks led the way with 703 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Chubb added 506 yards and three scores. Marks also chipped in 208 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns, giving Houston a serviceable dual-threat option out of the backfield.
Still, the production didn’t come close to what Mixon brought to the table the year before. And now, the Texans have to weigh whether they believe Marks and Chubb can carry the load long-term-or if they need to look elsewhere, either through the draft or by giving Mixon another shot.
Financially, the situation leans toward a potential parting of ways. Mixon is under contract through 2026 after signing a two-year extension when he was traded from Cincinnati in 2024.
But the key detail here is that the final year of that deal is mostly non-guaranteed. If the Texans release him this spring, they’re on the hook for just $2 million.
If they keep him, that number jumps to $10.5 million.
That’s a major delta, especially for a 30-year-old running back coming off a season-long injury.
From Mixon’s side, the path back might involve taking a short-term, prove-it deal-possibly with another team in need of a veteran presence in the backfield. He’s shown he can still be a difference-maker when healthy, but the shelf life for running backs in today’s NFL is brutally short, and teams are always looking for younger, cheaper options.
And that brings us to the draft. If the Texans hold onto Mixon but still use a premium pick on a running back, that could be a loud and clear signal that the clock is ticking on his time in Houston.
For now, the situation remains fluid. Mixon has the résumé and the track record, but the combination of age, injury history, and contract flexibility puts the Texans in a position where moving on might make more sense than running it back.
The next few months will tell us a lot about how Houston plans to shape its offense going forward-and whether Joe Mixon will be part of that picture.