Back in July, the Houston Texans placed star running back Joe Mixon on the Non-Football Injury list. He was reportedly dealing with an ankle injury, and he hasn't been out there in practices.
Now, just one day before Tuesday's roster-cut deadline day, the Texans have provided no clarity on his situation. Per Texans insider Cody Stoots, head coach DeMeco Ryans didn't share any update about his status.
Joe Mixon Missing the First Month of the Season Would Be No Surprise After Worrying Update
There's still no official word about Mixon's situation. If he's not activated from the NFI list before Tuesday's deadline, he will have to miss the first four games of the season at the very least. However, the fact that they've kept his status under wraps for a little over a month is certainly odd.
That's why ESPN insider Adam Schefter raised questions about whether he'll be able to suit up at all or if there's something more going on here:
“The silence from Houston is deafening regarding Joe Mixon’s injury. There’s been zero update. There are lots of questions about when—or if—he’ll be back," Schefter said, per 5 Goats. “He hasn’t practiced all year, hasn’t been seen much, hasn’t been heard from at all. There’s a lot going on with Joe Mixon’s ankle that hasn’t been addressed, and it hangs over this franchise—leaving a major question mark at the running back position.”
The former Cincinnati Bengals star enjoyed a solid first season with his new team, rushing for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground in 14 games.
The Texans also turned heads by signing former Cleveland Browns star Nick Chubb earlier in the offseason, and they might be forced to turn to him to start the year, even if Mixon is cleared to suit up for Week 1.
Chubb is coming off a major injury of his own, and he averaged a career-worst 3.3 yards per attempt in eight appearances, rushing for 332 yards and three scores on 102 carries. He was one of the best running backs in the game before his gruesome injury, but trusting him to turn back the clock in his age-30 season and hold down the fort without Mixon might be a little too much to ask at this point in his career.
This will keep the Texans' running back depth chart something to keep a very close eye on as roster cutdown day approaches.