Head coach DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans undeniably missed running back Joe Mixon this past season, and the head coach said as much in no uncertain terms.
Mixon was supposed to be a staple in the Texans’ offense, providing a stable source of production on offense under first-year coordinator Nick Caley. Instead, Mixon missed the entire season due to an undisclosed foot and/or ankle injury.
The two-time Pro Bowler now faces questions about his future with the Texans.
DeMeco Ryans Gets Honest About Joe Mixon’s Future
GettyJoe Mixon #28 of the Houston Texans on the field before facing the Green Bay Packers.
Ryans fielded a question about Mixon’s future with the Texans and if he even had one. The two-time Pro Bowl tailback is entering the final year of a two-year, $19.7 million contract, but there is no more guaranteed money on the deal.
“As of right now, I don’t know that answer,” Ryans told reporters on January 19.
Mixon was never close to returning for the Texans, donning a walking boot during the offseason and then missing the entire offseason program and preseason.
The Texans left the door open for his return all season, and Mixon pushed back on reports that he would miss the campaign. The lack of an endorsement from Ryans could prove telling. The decision is also going to lie with Texans general manager Nick Caserio, who spoke candidly.
Caserio described it as “very gray.”
“Joe’s worked at it. And there are times when he’s made progress, and other times when the progress just kind of stalled there a little bit,” Caserio said on “Payne & Pendergast” in November 2024. “Joe’s doing everything he can. Obviously, we’re getting pretty late in the game here. So, I don’t want to establish any sort of expectations.”
Texans Missed Joe Mixon
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans hands the ball off to Joe Mixon #28 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Mixon, who turns 30 in July, rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024, his first season with the Texans after they acquired him in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals.
He added another 309 yards and 1 TD on 36 receptions. The Texans turned to four-time Pro Bowler and former Cleveland Browns star Nick Chubb and rookie fourth-round pick Woody Marks in Mixon’s absence.
The Texans ranked 15th in rushing with Mixon in 2024. They ranked 22nd without him in 2025.
“When you have your best players, you’re going to be a better team,” Ryans said when asked if the Texans felt Mixon’s absence. “Joe was a really–he’s a really great running back for us. And not having him, yes, of course it affected our running game. And Joe is one of the top running backs in this league. So, yeah, that affected us.”
The Texans could once again take the draft approach to replace Mixon, targeting a more powerful back in the 2026 cycle to complement Marks, who is a dual-threat.
Texans Need Group Effort to Correct Run Game Woes
GettyWoody Marks #27 of the Houston Texans runs the ball against the Tennessee Titans.
Marks finished the campaign with 703 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 196 carries (3.6 YPC) with a 24-208-3 line as a pass-catcher. But he and Chubb, who is a free agent this offseason, both dealt with injuries during the season.
Regardless of what happens with Mixon, the Texans must run the ball better next season.
Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud commented on it throughout the season. Like Mixon, time will tell if the Texans charge Caley with fixing it.
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