Tag: Joe Mixon AFC Player of the Week

Watch: Texans RB Joe Mixon gets hat trick in victory over Cowboys

Joe Mixon pile drives it in for his third touchdown of the night as the Houston Texans improve to 7-4 on the regular season.

Take a bow, Joe Mixon.

It’s not every day you get the trifecta.

Mixon, perhaps the league’s most underrated extension of the offseason, cemented a Pro Bowl-esque night after securing a 4-yard touchdown run for his third score of the night as the Houston Texans secured a 34-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

Houston’s offense has struggled to compete in the second half of games since Week 6. Entering Monday’s game, the Texans had gone eight quarters without scoring a touchdown in the second half.

Even though the Texans didn’t score in the third quarter, Derek Barnett ended the drought with a 28-yard scoop-and-score on a strip sack against Cooper Rush. Mixon sealed off the scoring to give Houston 14 points over the final 15 minutes.

The Texans improve to 7-4 on the regular season and secure their first victory since Week 8. Mixon, who finished with 109 rushing yards, averaged 5.5 yards per run and three scores.

Houston also picked up its first win on ‘Monday Night Football’ since 2018. Even though C.J. Stroud is the head of Houston, Mixon has been the face of the offense.

There are no off days for Joe. He’s always mixing it on.

Texans RB Joe Mixon receives promotion following hot start

Joe Mixon has been named a team captain for the Houston Texans for the remainder of the season.

Joe Mixon is getting promoted.

The Houston Texans have named the Pro Bowl running a team captain for the remainder of the season. Mixon will replace Stefon Diggs, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 8’s win over the Indianapolis Colts.

“It’s a blessing,” Mixon said Friday. “I’m very grateful.”

If anyone has proven their value as a captain, it’s Mixon. Off the field, he’s been called a leader who wants perfection in every minor detail. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud mentioned Mixon’s attentiveness to the play and willingness to call players and coaches if they’re underperforming.

“That is what you want because at the end of the day. We all came here for one common goal and that is to win,” Stroud said. “If that is hurting somebody’s feelings, we are grown men, we get paid to do this. So, you have to be able to understand it, take it for love because he really just cares about the game, and he cares about this team and his coaches.

“I love Joe.”

On the field, Mixon remains the definition of consistency. Since returning from an ankle injury suffered in Week 2, he’s rushed for over 100 yards in each contest and scored at least one touchdown.

Since being traded to Houston this offseason, Mixon has averaged 4.8 yards per attempt and 101.5 yards per game. He’s scored six touchdowns on 126 rushing attempts.

“He very much exemplifies what we believe, as far as a Texans mindset,” offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “He plays fast, he is physical, he is tough, and you make sure you know it and you see it. Every time he touches a rock, and every time he does out in practice, how he approaches the meetings. He goes about it the way everyone in the Texans organization should go about it.”

Mixon will debut as the Texans’ newest captain this Sunday Night when the AFC South leaders welcome the Detroit Lions to NRG Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on NBC.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Watch: Texans RB Joe Mixon dismantles Packers defense for second TD

Joe Mixon has been the definition of a stud for the Houston Texans’ offense through four games this season.

The Houston Texans are hard to stop when they have a ground game.

When Joe Mixon is in the huddle, Houston might be the most complete offense in the NFL.

Mixon capped off a promising second quarter with his second touchdown run of the game, this time from 4 yards out, to put the Texans back in front by six over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

So far, Mixon’s basically handled business and taken the Packers’ lunch money and made them beg for mercy.

Houston has trusted its defense to force turnovers and give the offense a second opportunity. Nevile Hewitt picked off Packers star Jordan Love on the opening drive to set up a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal.

Just before Mixon’s 32-yard run to eventually set up the score, Calen Bullock recorded his third pick of the regular season. Surprisingly, takeaways were the subject of conversation, but more so for C.J. Stroud.

Green Bay entered Sunday with an NFL-leading 17 takeaways, including nine interceptions.

The Packers defense has created problems for Stroud and the passing game. While he’s 5-of-11 for 44 yards, the Texans continue to trust the ground game with Mixon.

He finished the first half with 81 yards rushing on 11 carries and two touchdowns. That’s an average over 7.6 yards per attempt.

With a win, the Texans would advance to 6-1, marking their best start since 2012.

Recap: Texans RB Joe Mixon scores 2 TDs in blowout win over Patriots

The Houston Texans improved to 5-1 for the first time since 2012 after securing a 20-point win over the New England Patriots

How do you like them apples?

Joe Mixon returned to his Pro Bowl form with a 102-yard rushing performance while scoring two touchdowns as the Houston Texans bested the New England Patriots, 41-21, at Gillette Stadium.

With the win, the Texans join the 2012 roster as the only team in franchise history to begin the season 5-1. That season, Houston started 11-1 before securing a division title at 12-4.

Fully healthy, the Texans could surpass the marker with 13 wins.

Mixon, who missed three games with an ankle injury, proved he was back at full capacity during the second quarter when he broke free for a 57-yard gain. The former Bengals star found his way into the end zone on a 10-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud.

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Stroud might have thrown an interception during the second quarter, but he also threw three touchdown passes to coast out to a 21-7 lead entering the third quarter.

Stefon Diggs took over as the new No. 1 target with Nico Collins on the injured reserve, hauling in a team-leading six catches for 77 yards and a score.

Tank Dell, who last season served as Houston’s No. 2 weapon during his season, posted a season-high seven receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter.

The Patriots offense finally found life behind Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s NFL draft. After failing to score more than 20 points in four of their first five games, New England scored a season-high 21 points thanks to three touchdown passes from the North Carolina product.

Maye finished 20 of 33 for 243 yards and rushed 38.  He was intercepted twice, sacked four times and caught up a fumble that led to Diggs’ touchdown.

Houston’s secondary will need work, but the pass rush was potent. Will Anderson Jr. recorded three sacks, improving his season total to 5.5. Pro Bowl counterpart Danielle Hunter striped-sacked Maye during the opening drive of the third quarter, leading to a 14-point swing in favor of Houston.

Pressure from the front seven led to success on the back end. Maye overthrew DeMario Douglas and was intercepted by Calen Bullock. Later on, Anderson popped a pass in the air, which landed in the arms of Eric Murray.
Mixon wasn’t the only running back making highlight plays in his return.

Dameon Pierce, who missed four games with a hamstring injury, ripped off a 54-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to extend Houston’s lead to 20.

Peirce finished with 76 yards and averaged 9.5 yards per run.

The Texans remain on the road next week as they travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers at noon CT.

Texans RB Joe Mixon hits career milestone in return vs. Patriots

Joe Mixon crossed a career milestone in his return for the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon against the New England Patriots.

Welcome back, Joe Mixon. Also, welcome to the history books.

Back in the lineup with the Houston Texans for the first time since Week 6, Mixon surpassed a career milestone, recording his 100th career game. He came out the gate swinging against the New England Patriots, scoring on a 10-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to help Houston secure a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

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Mixon would have crossed off the marker in Week 3 if not for an ankle injury suffered against the Chicago Bears. During the third quarter, Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards recorded an illegal hip drop tackle and rolled over Mixon’s ankle.

He never found a consistent ability to practice, leading to him missing three games. Before that, the former Cincinnati Bengals star was off to a record-setting start with a 159-yard rushing performance in Week 1’s win over the Indianapolis Colts.

During the second quarter, Mixon proved that his ankle was fine after breaking free for a 59-yard run to set up Houston inside the red zone.

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That one run puts him over his Week 2 total of 50 yards. The hope is Houston will have a blend of speed and power with the return of Dameon Pierce.

With a win, the Texans would advance to 5-1, marking their best start since 2012.

Watch: Texans RB Joe Mixon scores first TD since Week 1 vs. Patriots

Welcome back to the end zone, Joe Mixon.

A trap game for the Houston Texans? Far from it with the return of Joe Mixon. 

After being cleared to play for the first time in three weeks, Mixon came out swinging on the ground versus the New England Patriots. After failing to make it in the end zone on Houston’s opening drive, the former Pro Bowl runner capped off an eight-play, 45-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown reception from quarterback C.J. Stroud.

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The Texans lead 14-0 entering the second quarter and continue to drive against a Patriots team breaking in a new quarterback in rookie Drake Maye. So far, Stroud is 8-for-11 for 81 yards and two touchdown passes, including one to receiver Tank Dell.

Mixon, who joined Houston this offseason after spending seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, has missed the past three games with an ankle injury. Back in Week 1, he led the league in rushing with 159 yards and a touchdown while averaging 5.3 yards per play.

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He’s been itching to get back on the field and take pressure off Storud and the passing game. So far, everyone is stepping up in place of the injured Nico Collins.

Collins, who entered Sunday with an NFL-leading 567 yards, will miss the next four games after being placed on the injured reserve earlier this week.

Texans receive boost on the ground with return of RB Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon is back for the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon.

Joe Mixon is back for the Houston Texans.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rappaport, Mixon is cleared and will play in Sunday’s matchup against the New England Patriots. The Pro Bowl running back has been out since suffering an ankle injury in Week 2’s win over the Chicago Bears.

Mixon, who inked a three-year extension after being traded to Houston from Cincinnati this offseason, got off to a hot start, rushing for 159 yards and a touchdown in a 29-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.

He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week and led all players in total yards with 178.

But Mixon was sidelined for three weeks after Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards used an illegal hip-drop tackle to bring him down. While Edwards was fined for the hit, Mixon took the brunt of the impact with the injury.

“I was the No. 1 leader in rushing. I was stopped because of that weak-ass hip-drop tackle,” he told reporters Thursday. “I can’t do nothing about that. It’s frustrating, it is what it is. I want to be out there more than anybody.”

When healthy, Mixon remains the Texans’ top rusher. He leads the team in yards but a decent amount over Cam Akers, who currently has 148 yards.

Akers is averaging nearly a yard fewer (3.9) than Mixon (4.7) through five games.

The return of Mixon is a welcomed one after the Texans lost star receiver Nico Collins to the injured reserve. Collins, who leads the NFL with 567 receiving yards, pulled his hamstring last week in the Texans’ 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Will Texans RB Joe Mixon be ready for Week 6 matchup vs. Patriots?

Joe Mixon could be suiting up for the first time in three weeks this Sunday for the Houston Texans.

Joe Mixon finally appeared on the injury report with a positive outlook for the first time in three weeks.

The Houston Texans starting running back was listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup against the New England Patriots after practicing Friday afternoon. This marks the second consecutive day of training, meaning there’s a likelihood that Mixon could travel with the team and suit up at Gillette Stadium.

Fellow running back Dameon Pierce will play after missing the previous four games with a hamstring injury. He was a full participant in practice the past two days.

Mixon will have to pass all tests leading up to the game, meaning the training staff will have the final say on if he’s cleared to play. Still, it’s progress. Mixon has barely practiced since suffering an ankle injury in Week 2’s win over the Chicago Bears.

Chicago linebacker T.J. Edwards was fined for using an illegal hip-drop tackle technique during the third quarter of Week 2’s matchup on Sunday night football. Edwards continued to play while Mixon was sidelined for three weeks.

Entering the matchup, the former Cincinnati Bengals star led the league with 159 rushing yards and 178 total yards. He was essential in helping Houston secure a win on the road against the Indianapolis Colts.

“I’m just going to keep on working, and when it’s time to be out there, I’m going to do what I’ve got to do to show I’m the best on the field,” Mixon said Thursday. “It’s as simple as that.”

Even if Mixon were to return, New England’s been one of the better teams defending the run. They enter Sunday under first-year coach Jerod Mayo boasting the seventh-best run defense while holding 4.2 yards per carry,

“They’re going to make you earn it,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said.  “They’re going to make you – they’re going to strain. They’re going to make you really work to get points against this defense. So, despite their record, I can see [Mayo’s] imprints all over this team with their physicality, their mindset and the way they’re playing football.”

With Mixon absent, Houston has relied on the combination of Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers. Since Week 2, the Texans have averaged just 77 rushing yards per game.

Kickoff at noon CT.

Texans receive significant update on RB Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon might be back in time to take on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Joe Mixon might be returning at the right moment for the Houston Texans.

Mixon returned to his first padded practice Thursday, increasing the likelihood of his availability in Sunday’s showdown against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Expected to serve as the backbone of Houston’s ground game, Mixon has been sidelined since Week 2 after Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards used a hip-drop tackle to bring him down in the third quarter.

Mixon did return for a Friday walkthrough in preparation for Week 4’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but given that it wasn’t a physical practice, the Texans elected to shut him down.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has also been adamant about keeping Mixon’s status a weekly update and would not put an exact timetable on the return.

“We’ll continue to see how Joe does throughout the week,” Ryans said of Mixon’s status Wednesday.

Mixon is one of the Texans’ most dangerous weapons when healthy. He had 159 yards rushing on 30 carries and a touchdown in Week 1’s win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Should Mixon be cleared, Houston would have its top four runners back for the first time since Week 1. Dameon Pierce, who was sidelined for four games with a hamstring injury, returned as a part-time participant Wednesday.

“[We’re] excited to have Dameon back, back at practice,” Ryans said. “He’s done a great job with his rehab process and he’s back out working, so we’re expecting to have him ready to go for the game.”

Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers have been the top two options at tailback through the past three games. Akers has scored two touchdowns, including a 15-yard run in Week 5’s win over the Bills.

Ogunbowale has been more so the pass-catching option for Houston on third down. In Week 4, he caught a game-winning 1-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud with 18 seconds remaining. Last week, he finished second in receptions with catches for 57 yards.

“He has been huge for us, definitely on third-down,” Stroud said. “I definitely feel like he will continue to do that for us.”

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans RB Joe Mixon ruled out for Sunday’s matchup vs. Bills

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon will miss his third straight game due to an ankle injury.

This story has been updated with further information

Another week, another matchup where the Houston Texans must trust the duo of Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale.

Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon is out for Week 5’s showdown against the Buffalo Bills, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rappaport.

Fellow running back Dameon Pierce is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury after returning to practice Friday.

Mixon, who returned last Friday to partake in team drills, was a no-show on Wednesday and Thursday, indicating that Houston could again be in trouble. Thursday’s practice is usually Houston’s most strenuous, while Fridays are a walkthrough.

Mixon’s inability to practice with limited contact laid out warning signs that the Texans could be in trouble on the ground.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday that Mixon would be “day-to-day.” When asked about his availability for Sunday, Ryans said, “We’ll see,” indicating that Thursday’s practice likely would determine the outlook.

Having Mixon back would have benefitted the Texans against one of the league’s worst run defenses. Buffalo enters NRG Stadium allowing a league-leading 5.7 yards per run.

In Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills allowed 271 rushing yards and 8.0 yards per run, 199 of which came from Derrick Henry.

“Baltimore seems far more like an anomaly than a norm. They had some mental mistakes that happened that created some plays that really haven’t shown up on their tape,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “They give some yards in the run game but over the course of the game they don’t believe you are going to keep doing it and keep doing it, eventually they will get you to a third down and they are pretty good in third down. It is a challenge for us.”

Mixon’s departure likely means that Akers will serve as the top runner for the third straight game. The former second-round pick rushed for a season-high 53 yards in Sunday’s win over the Jaguars and scored a 6-yard touchdown in Week 3’s loss against the Vikings.

Akers could be something still in Houston’s backfield after totaling 74 yards on 22 carries across his two starts in the preseason.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.