The Houston Texans’ 2025 season had its fair share of twists, but perhaps none more puzzling than the year-long absence of veteran running back Joe Mixon. A key offseason acquisition expected to bolster the backfield, Mixon never took a single snap. Instead, he landed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list with a foot issue, and that was the last we saw of him all season.
The nature of the injury has been a mystery for months. What we do know is that Mixon’s foot injury didn’t occur during football activities - hence the NFI designation - but the specifics have remained under wraps.
Until now, the Texans had offered little clarity. That changed, at least slightly, when general manager Nick Caserio addressed the situation this week.
Speaking to reporters, Caserio described Mixon’s injury as a “freak medical thing,” emphasizing that the running back hadn’t done anything reckless to cause it.
“Didn’t jump off a building, wasn’t cliff diving, not doing anything irresponsible,” Caserio said.
So, while the Texans still aren’t offering a full diagnosis or timeline, they’re making it clear this wasn’t the result of poor judgment on Mixon’s part. That’s something. But it also raises new questions about what exactly happened and why the team continues to keep details so close to the chest.
Caserio was also asked about Mixon’s status for 2026, and his answer didn’t offer much optimism. He noted that the team hasn’t seen Mixon in a while and that they’re waiting on an “examination” before determining the next steps. When pressed on whether Mixon would be back next season, Caserio simply said, “It’ll be hard to answer that right now.”
That uncertainty only deepens the cloud hanging over Mixon’s future in Houston. The lack of communication between player and team is striking, especially for a veteran with Mixon’s résumé. And it’s hard to ignore the implications - when a GM says the team hasn’t seen a player in a while, that’s rarely a good sign.
From a roster-building perspective, the Texans may have a decision to make. Mixon has one year left on his deal, but the team could release him and save $8 million in cap space while absorbing just a $2 million dead-cap hit. Given the current circumstances - a missed season, a mysterious injury, a 29-year-old running back, and a communication gap - that option may be on the table.
For now, the Texans are keeping their cards close. But unless something changes soon, it’s looking more and more like Joe Mixon’s time in Houston could be over before it ever really began.