Joe Mixon Injury Update: When Will RB Return to Texans?

When it comes to Joe Mixon this season, no news is bad news. The Houston Texans have been mostly radio silent when it comes to providing injury updates on their star running back. Here, we will deliver the latest Mixon breadcrumbs and try to piece together a timeline for his return to the field. We will also look at Mixon’s fantasy football stock and the Texans' betting odds.

🏥 When will Joe Mixon return and be back with the Texans?

Mixon is reportedly still dealing with a foot/ankle injury. It is still unclear exactly how severe the injury is. It is still unclear exactly how the injury occurred, and it is still unclear exactly when the injury happened.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio has been extremely vague when it comes to Mixon's injury updates. The latest information we have to work with came on Oct. 7.

"I think over the next few weeks we’ll probably have a better idea. He’s making progress," Caserio said. "I wouldn’t put a particular timetable on it. Over the next three or four weeks, we'll probably get a little more information here, and kind of see how he’s progressing. We’ll take it one day at a time. But once we kind of get to that period, we’ll probably have a better sense of which way it’s going to go for the duration of the year."

Saying that Mixon is "making progress" is the most encouraging news we’ve gotten from Texans camp since the injury first came to light this past summer. But, most indications are that Mixon will not be back any time soon.

Mixon is eligible to return now after missing the mandatory four games on the PUP list, but it is highly unlikely we see him even back at practice during November.

If Mixon is to return this season, it would likely be in mid-to-late December. Here is a look at the Texans’ schedule around that time.

• Sunday, Dec. 14: Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans
• Sunday, Dec. 21: Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans
• Saturday, Dec. 27 or Sunday, Dec. 28: Houston Texans at LA Chargers

⏳ How long will Joe Mixon be out for?

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, "sources have consistently called [the Mixon injury] a complicated situation, and have expressed doubt that [Mixon] will play this year."

Some have even speculated that Mixon’s time in Houston may be over entirely. 

Complicating matters for Mixon is that this appears to have been a non-football injury, suffered away from the team. 

There are all sorts of contract ramifications with non-football injuries. This may be a big part of the reason why the whole situation is so secretive. 

Mixon signed a three-year, $27 million contract extension with the Texans in March 2024, shortly after being traded to Houston from Cincinnati. 

🏈 Joe Mixon fantasy football stock

Mixon is still owned in 37% of Yahoo! fantasy football leagues, but that number should decrease the longer that he remains out of action.

The 29-year-old RB is coming off back-to-back 1,000-plus yard rushing seasons. He found the end zone 11 times as a runner last season, which was the second-highest season TD total of his career.

🐂 Texans betting odds

The Texans got off to a brutal 0-3 start this season, but have since rebounded to give them a chance at securing a playoff berth. Houston is currently 4-5 and sits in third place in the AFC South.

Super Bowl odds show Houston with a +6500 price. Their current win total projection is 7.5 wins at the best NFL betting sites, with juice on the Over.

DeMeco Ryans’ squad is +1300 to win the AFC South.