Joe Mixon Injury Update
Joe Mixon's injury update isn't the kind of news that Texans fans—or fantasy managers—wanted to see in mid-August: as of right now, Mixon's recovering from a nagging, somewhat mysterious foot-ankle injury, and he’s not guaranteed to be back for Week 1. Not fun, not flashy. The Texans, cautious by both necessity and design, are refusing to rush him onto the field. In fact, some experts are beginning to wonder aloud if this thing could drag into the regular season—maybe even threaten a chunk of the year.
As a fan, trust me, there’s nothing worse than a “lingering” injury. Especially foot and ankle stuff with running backs. You hear “lingering,” and your brain forfeits all hope of a neat, scheduled return. There’s no “two weeks, re-taped, ready to go.” Just vibes. Painful, limping vibes.
When Will Joe Mixon Be Back?
The most honest (albeit infuriating) answer? No one knows for sure, and the official updates keep hedging. Mixon hasn’t practiced at all this offseason: nothing at OTAs, not a snap at minicamp, and now zero preseason action. The latest from Texans beat writers and coach DeMeco Ryans is that he's "still training" and "we'll bring him back when the time is right." Classic coach-speak—a phrase that means everything and nothing.
Here’s the sobering rundown:
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He injured his foot/ankle away from team activities, somewhere in the shadowy world of “non-football injuries.”
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He’s been through the whole med-school starter kit: walking boot, ankle brace, now undefined “rehab and managing” plus emotional rollercoaster.
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He’s stuck on Houston's non-football injury list and hasn't suited up once in summer camp.
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Some experts are seriously predicting that he could start the year on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list—that means a minimum four-game absence.
I get it: it’s August, optimism abounds, nobody wants to declare a guy done for September before a single regular-season carry. But there’s a very real chance Mixon misses the opener on September 7 and possibly much more. I remember the time I banked my entire fantasy hopes on a “day-to-day” running back who actually ended up missing five games—the only “run” I got was running out of the playoffs by October.
