Joe Mixon’s Texans Future in Doubt After Bizarre Injury Saga
One of the lingering question marks from the Houston Texans’ 2025 season wasn’t about play-calling or quarterback development - it was about a running back who never took the field. Joe Mixon, expected to be a key piece of Houston’s offense, never suited up after landing on the non-football injury (NFI) list before the season began. And nearly a year later, the situation remains as murky as ever.
What we do know is this: Mixon missed the entire 2025 season due to a foot injury that, according to the NFI designation, occurred away from football activities. That’s a broad category - anything from a household accident to a medical issue could fall under that umbrella - and the Texans had been tight-lipped about the specifics. Until now.
Speaking to local media on Wednesday, Texans general manager Nick Caserio offered a rare glimpse into the situation. But instead of clarity, his comments only deepened the mystery.
“Didn’t jump off a building, wasn’t cliff diving, not doing anything irresponsible,” Caserio said. “Freak medical thing.”
That’s the quote - and it’s doing a lot of work. Caserio made it clear that Mixon’s injury wasn’t the result of reckless behavior.
But beyond that, there’s still no concrete detail on what exactly happened. Was it a rare medical condition?
A sudden health scare? All Caserio would say is that it wasn’t Mixon’s fault - and that it wasn’t football-related.
As for Mixon’s future in Houston? That’s equally uncertain. Caserio said the team hasn’t had recent contact with the veteran back and noted that Mixon still needs to undergo an examination before any decisions can be made about his status for 2026.
“It’ll be hard to answer that right now,” Caserio admitted when asked if Mixon would return next season.
That’s not the kind of response you give when a player is firmly in your plans. And the silence between Mixon and the team only adds to the speculation.
Why hasn’t he been around? Why hasn’t the evaluation happened yet?
Those are questions the Texans - and fans - are still waiting to have answered.
From a roster-building standpoint, the writing may already be on the wall. Mixon is entering the final year of his contract, and while he’s due a significant salary, Houston has a financial out.
Releasing him would save the team $8 million against the cap while only leaving behind $2 million in dead money, per Over The Cap. That’s a tempting option for a team looking to stay flexible - especially with a 29-year-old running back who hasn’t played a down in over a year.
When Mixon joined the Texans, the hope was that he’d bring veteran stability and production to the backfield. Instead, his time in Houston has become a case study in uncertainty - a “freak medical thing” that sidelined him, a season lost without a snap, and now a future that looks increasingly like it’ll unfold somewhere else.
For now, the Texans are keeping their cards close to the vest. But unless something changes - and fast - it’s hard to see a reunion in 2026.