Tag: Joe Mixon Houston Texans

Texans Wire Player of the Game: RB Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon put up a hat trick during Monday Night Football’s showdown against the Dallas Cowboys.

When the Houston Texans traded for Joe Mixon this offseason, many figured he’d be around for a one-year deal.

When the Texans inked him to a new three-year extension, there were some concerns. Most running backs dwindle with age, leading to regression in carries and explosive runs.

That memo hasn’t reached Mixon entering mid-November down off NRG Drive.

Mixon scored three touchdowns in a 34-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football” at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. He finished 109 rushing yards and averaged 5.5 yards per play.

“Joe, when he’s on, he’s a force for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “The run game starts with our offensive line. I challenged them to play fast, play aggressive. I thought they did a really nice job. I really like the way we just kept churning it in the run game, and proud of the guys for stepping up to the challenge.”

After Nico Collins’ 78-yard touchdown reception was called back on the opening play, Houston trusted its ground game. Mixon broke free for a 45-yard score, his second-longest run of the regular season to give the Texans an early 7-0 lead.

He also scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter and a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Mixon, who finished 109 rushing yards, tied a Texans single-game record for rushing touchdowns, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

“I think everybody was dialed in on the game plan, and we came out here and executed for four quarters,” Mixon said. “It was a great thing to see the O-line pretty much go out there and impose their will.”

The Texans also showed promise on the offensive line. C.J. Stroud completed 67.7% of his passes for 257 yards and an interception. He also was only sacked once and pressured three times.

But Mixon scored the points, so he’s Week 11’s Player of the Week for Texans Wire. This marks the third time he’s taken home the title after putting up a league-leading 159 yards in Week 1 and 115 yards in Week 7.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium to take on the Tennessee Titans this Sunday at noon CT.

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.

Watch: Texans RB Joe Mixon continues dominance with TD run vs. Packers

Joe Mixon remains the bell cow for the Houston Texans’ offense entering halftime at Lambeau Field.

Joe Mixon is cashing in on being the Houston Texans top running back.

The Texans are cashing in on the Green Bay Packers‘ mistakes.

Following a muffed punt recovered by the defensive back M.J. Stewart, Mixon punched in a 2-yard touchdown to give Houston a 10-7 lead at Lambeau Field.

The only downside of the play? His Lambeau Leap was foiled thanks to the Packers’ faithful keeping him out of the stands.

Since returning from injury, Mixon has lived up to billing as being the top option for Houston’s ground game. He finished with 102 yards and a touchdown run in Week 6’s victory over the New England Patriots. Mixon also caught two passes for 30 yards and a touchdown reception in the second half.

As the Texans enter the second half, Mixon remains the head honcho on offense. He’s averaging 7.4 yards per run with three first-down conversions.

The Texans will start the second half on offense while looking to improve to 6-1.

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 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.