The Texans offense seemed to find its footing against the lowly Titans in Week 4. While the unit appears to be trending upwards, they’ll still have to move forward without an offensive focal point for the foreseeable future.
While speaking with reporters, coach DeMeco Ryans said that star running back Joe Mixon is not ready to return (per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston). The veteran continues to sit on the reserve/NFI list with a foot/ankle injury, although he’s now eligible to be activated.
Sources seemed to paint a bleaker picture. According to Wilson, it will be “much longer” for a potential Mixon return, and there’s some skepticism that the running back will even be able to play this season. This matches a report from late August that indicated that Mixon may ultimately have to sit out the entire 2025 campaign.
Mixon dealt with a lingering foot/ankle issue during the 2024 campaign that forced him to miss three games. He aggravated the issue while training this offseason. Considering the player’s age and the installation of Nick Caley‘s new offense, the Texans have continually made it clear that they’d slow play Mixon’s rehab. Now, it’s sounding like the team may not have a choice but to rely on their other RBs in 2025.
Mixon continued his high-level play after getting dealt from the Bengals to the Texans during the 2024 offseason. The two-time Pro Bowler finished the campaign with 1,325 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns. Two years remain on Mixon’s contract, but none of his $8MM base salary for 2026 is guaranteed. If the player is unable to return in 2025, there’s a chance the team bails on the veteran this offseason.
Veteran Nick Chubb has led the depth chart through the first four weeks of the season, but the offseason acquisition has only managed to compile 188 yards on 47 carries. Rookie fourth-round pick Woody Marks had a breakout showing this past weekend, collecting 119 yards from scrimmage and a pair of scores. That game represented the first time this season that Marks has outsnapped Chubb, and there’s a chance the rookie may be eyeing an even larger role as the season progresses.
Feed Woody
Morning Woody
Without Mixon the Texans are one dimensional and much easier to defense. The Jags and Colts have solid run games to support their QBs.
Not really. Chubbs averaging 4 yards a carry and they have a 3rd down receiving back in Marks
Issue with the Texans isn’t the run game it’s the play calling.
First three games they refused to take deep shots and settled for a lot of underneath stuff. That and they couldn’t score in the red zone.
When you’re keeping everything 10 yards or less it’s easy for the defense to creep up and attack both receivers and backs. When they’re not afraid of plays getting behind them they play faster up front.
They have gone from 13th in rushing last season to 23rd…they’re really missing Mixon.
Mixon averaged a whopping 4.1 yards compared to Chubbs 4.0.
You’re comparing last season where they ran the ball 434 times (26 times a game) to 100 in 4 games (25 a game)
Last season Texans averaged 4.2 yards a team they have 4.14 yards as a team this year
That’s cool they went down in ranking but stats say you’re wrong cause they’ve right around where they were last year lmao.
Marks and Chubb will get better as long as the offensive line continues to fire out … keep running the ball to help Stroud.