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Joe Mixon’s best plays: Highlights from Texans RB’s 2024 season

Let’s take a look back at some of Joe Mixon’s best plays with the Houston Texans during the 2024 season.

While it might have been Year 1 for Joe Mixon in a Houston Texans uniform, the former Cincinnati Bengals star felt right at home.

Mixon, the backbone of Houston’s ground game, served as a staple for the Texans en route to a second AFC South division title under DeMeco Ryans and AFC Divisional Round matchup appearance.

The two-time Pro Bowl running back became the sixth player in franchise history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season and the first to accomplish the feat since Carlos Hyde in 2019. He finished with 1,012 yards and a team-leading 13 TDs while averaging 4.2 yards per attempt.

His numbers could’ve been much better if not for three missed games due to an ankle injury. It also didn’t help that Houston relied heavily on the passing game late in the fourth quarter because of the score in close losses.

While many will remember Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley’s breakout seasons on new rosters, Mixon deserves some love for stabilizing the H-Town, ground-and-pound attack. Below is a highlight reel of Mixon’s best plays from 2024, which could end up being the first of many seasons with the Texans.

Joe Mixon hopes Texans bring back All-Pro WR for 2025 season

If Stefon Diggs wants to return to Houston, Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon will be the first to welcome him with open arms.

The Houston Texans have over two dozen free agents set to hit the market this offseason, but Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon hopes at least one is back in the huddle for the season-opener when the offense takes the field.

If two-time All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs wants to return to NRG Stadium, Mixon said everyone would be elated.

“I hope that obviously he’s back and is my locker mate again,” Mixon said on Monday. “When it comes down to it, I’m sure he’s going do what’s best for him and same with the team. Selfishly, I think that all of us would welcome Stef back with open arms.”

After trading a 2025 second-round pick to the Buffalo Bills, Houston voided the final three years of Diggs’ current deal, making him a free agent following the 2024 season. After Nico Collins signed a three-year extension this offseason, it seemed like the four-time Pro Bowler would be a one-and-done in Houston.

Diggs’ market remains a mystery and the Texans enter the offseason. He was on pace for another 100-catch season as Houston’s No. 2 receiver before a torn ACL suffered in Week 8 sidelined him for the rest of the year.

At 31, Diggs could be looking for a short-term deal that offers him a chance to win a ring. That could be Houston, which returns multiple offensive roleplayers including Mixon, Collins, quarterback C.J. Stroud, tight end Dalton Schultz and Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Mixon said he’s been recruiting Diggs since Day 1 in hopes of having him around to help the back-to-back AFC South champs get over the hump and into the Super Bowl conversation.

“We definitely were on the same page,” Mixon said. “Obviously my guy just got hurt. But it is a business, that’s the unfortunate part.”

Diggs, who finished with 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games, could command a decent market on a one-year deal. Earlier this season, he mentioned that he’d be open to coming back to Houston as he continues to attack his recovery.

That’ll be up to GM Nick Caserio, who could look to go younger and cheaper this offseason for a quality No. 2 threat. Plans could have changed after Tank Dell suffered a season-ending knee injury that likely will keep him out for most of the 2025 campaign due to recovery time.

Mixon believes Diggs is on track to becoming better entering 2025. Hopefully, that better ends in the end zone while wearing a Texans’ uniform.

“I’m excited that he’s back on his feet,” Mixon said. “I’m sure he’s probably going to want to come back here. He’s got unfinished business. Hopefully, he would take that into consideration.”

The Texans have roughly $10.6 million in cap space entering the offseason, though that number could fluctuate after roster cuts and contract reworks.

Is Joe Mixon playing today? Injury updates for Texans RB

Texans running back Joe Mixon is dealing with an ankle injury entering the AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Here are the latest updates.

While the Houston Texans are headed to the AFC Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs, one of their star players could be limited in Saturday’s showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon dealt with an ankle issue throughout the week of practice and was a late addition to the injury report. He practiced sporadically on Wednesday and didn’t take the field during Thursday’s final walkthrough.

The do-it-all running back has been essential to Houston’s regular-season success en route to a second AFC South division title. The Texans already have dealt with plenty of issues at the receiver spot with season-ending injuries, only adding more to Mixon’s plate.

Right now, the Texans are being cautious with Mixon’s status. And while there is cause for concern, it would be fairly surprising if the running back was sidelined in a winner-take-all showdown.

Here’s the latest on Mixon ahead of Saturday’s showdown between the two AFC contenders in Kansas City.

Joe Mixon injury update

Despite listed as questionable with an ankle injury for Saturday’s contest against Kansas City, KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson reported that Mixon was “good to go” for kickoff.

NFL Network later confirmed the report, stating that Mixon would remain the focal point of the offense on Saturday against the Chiefs.

Mixon’s ankle has been a lingering problem throughout the year. After being brought down with an illegal hip-drop tackle in Week 2’s win over the Chicago Bears, he missed three games before returning in Week 6.

Against the Miami Dolphins in Week 15, Mixon was limited in the fourth quarter after being tackled while rolling over on his ankle. He didn’t leave the game, but his burst and acceleration were depleted.

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Texans RB depth chart

Here’s a look at the Texans’ running back options should Mixon be sidelined or limited for Saturday’s showdown:

  • Dameon Pierce
  • Dare Ogunbowale
  • J.J. Taylor (elevated from practice squad)

Joe Mixon stats

After being traded to Houston from the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason, Mixon has become the bell-cow back for the Texans’ offense. The veteran rushed for 1,016 yards off 245 carries for 11 touchdowns. He also added 36 receptions, 309 yards and a touchdown as a receiver.

Mixon became the sixth running back in franchise history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season and the first since Carlos Hyde in 2019.

The former Oklahoma star also became the first Texans running back since Arian Foster in 2012 to rush for over 100 yards in a playoff game after his performance in a 32-12 win against the Chargers last weekend.

Texans provide injury update on RB Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon could be out another week entering the Houston Texans’ road trip against the New England Patriots.

(This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.)

The Houston Texans might be sitting at 4-1, but they need Joe Mixon back if they plan on looking like one of the league’s top teams.

On Monday, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Mixon is still working his way back from the ankle injury and that a timetable for his return remains up in the air.

Most notably, Ryans changed his wording from “day to day” to “week to week” when describing the timeline of Mixon’s status.

“We don’t know as of right now,” Ryans said on the possibility of Mixon returning this week. “I can’t give you that answer but we will see how Joe improves over the week. He has definitely been improving week to week, he’s been doing a great job attacking his rehab so we will see where he is as the week goes on.”

Mixon looked the part of RB1 in Week 1’s win over the Indianapolis Colts after rushing for 159 yards on 30 carries. In Week 2, he left during the third quarter after Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards used an illegal hip-drop tackle to bring him down.

The former Pro Bowler has missed the past three games because of the injury, leading to limited success on the ground.

While Edwards was fined $16,883 for the tackle, Houston is dealing with the ramifications of being limited at running back.

“Joe is out because of that, the hip-drop tackle,” Ryans said. “The NFL is doing a great job of communicating for an entire league of how we want to tackle, how we should tackle. We’re trying to get that out of the game. I think some guys have been fined for making those illegal tackles. But the fine doesn’t get your guy back soon enough.”

Mixon, who inked a three-year, $27 million deal in the offseason to become the focal back in Houston’s offense, has shown some signs of life. He participated in drills last Friday before being ruled out for Week 4’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Texans aren’t going to push Mixon back until he’s near full speed. For now, Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale remain the top two options entering Week 6’s matchup against the New England Patriots.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Akers scored a 15-yard touchdown during the first quarter on Sunday and caught a 6-yard score from C.J. Stroud in Week 3’s loss against the Minnesota Vikings.

Ogunbowale finished second in catches with five for 57 yards. He also scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard pass from Stroud in Week 4 over the Jaguars.

“Cam and Dare did a really nice job with the role that they have been asked to take on with us missing Joe and Dameon [Pierce],” Ryans said. “They have done a good job on the touchdown run.”

Kickoff from Gillette Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.