Tag: Joe Mixon injury

Texans RB Joe Mixon ruled out for Vikings game

Joe Mixon will not travel to Minneapolis with the Houston Texans to take on the Minnesota Vikings.

Joe Mixon’s status for Sunday’s game has officially been revealed.

According to the Houston Texans‘ public relations staff, Mixon will not travel to Minnesota with the team on Saturday to face the Vikings in Week 3. Initially, Mixon was ruled doubtful with an ankle injury but instead will stay back to rehabilitate.

Running back J.J. Taylor was from the practice squad to the active roster in place of Mixon. Houston also elevated linebacker and special teams standout Zeke Turner to bolster kick coverage in place of Dameon Pierce, who was also ruled out due to a hamstring issue.

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Traded by the Bengals this offseason to Houston, Mixon is expected to be the bell cow runner when healthy. Over his first two weeks, the 2021 Pro Bowl has rushed for 189 yards on 39 carries and a touchdown in two games while averaging 4.5 yards per attempt.

He won AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in Week 1 after rushing for 159 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown against the Colts. In Week 2’s win over the Bears, Mixon finished with 50 total yards.

Houston now turns to Cam Akers to serve as the top rushing option in the battle between the two undefeated rosters. Akers, a former second-round pick out of Florida State, took over for Mixon in the fourth quarter. He rushed for 32 yards on seven carries, but also had a fumble.

As one of the top preseason stars, Akers proved to be a valuable asset for Houston’s ground game in August. Injuries have derailed his promising career. In 2021, he suffered an Achilles tear as a member of the Rams.

After being traded to Minnesota last season, he suffered a second Achilles tear in early November.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said he remained confident in Akers, given his knowledge of the offensive personnel from his time in Los Angeles and Minnesota.

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“He’s been running — ran zone scheme he came from — he did the same thing in Minnesota,” Slowik said Thursday. “He’s really good at reading that, we call it riding the wave, finding the right hole to hit. He always plays under control. When he sees it, he hits it. He finishes physical. And he has really good contact balance and I’d say those are the things that jump out with Cam.”

Houston is looking to go 3-0 for the first time since 2012. Kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans receive negative update on RB Joe Mixon’s status

Joe Mixon will likely not be suiting up for the Texans come Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Houston Texans were hopeful that running back Joe Mixon would be cleared for Sunday’s road game against the Minnesota Vikings.

As the team departs for Minneapolis, Houston must put its trust in veteran Cam Akers as the new lead back.

Mixon, who suffered an ankle injury due to an illegal hip-drop tackle in Week 2’s win over the Chicago Bears, is listed as doubtful for Week’s matchup against the undefeated Vikings.

He’s currently listed as week-to-week moving into Week 4’s AFC South divisional matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Fellow running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) was ruled out on Friday’s injury report.

Mixon set the tone in Houston’s 29-27 win over Indianapolis with 159 rushing yards and a touchdown. He won AFC Offensive Player of the Week after averaging 5.3 yards per attempt.

During the third quarter of Sunday’s home opener, Chicago linebacker T.J. Edwards used his body to bring down Mixon. Earlier this offseason, the NFLPA banned the tackling technique because of the higher-than-normal injury rate it causes.

The Texans plan to send the video to the league office for further review after officials ruled it a clean hit. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after further review, it was clear Edwards turned his body to make the illegal hit.

Akers, a former second-round pick out of Florida State, took over for Mixon in the fourth quarter. He rushed for 32 yards on seven carries, but also had a fumble.

As one of the top preseason stars, Akers proved to be a valuable asset for Houston’s ground game in August. Injuries have derailed his promising career. In 2021, he suffered an Achilles tear as a member of the Rams.

After being traded to Minnesota last season, he suffered a second Achilles tear in early November.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said he remained confident in Akers, given his knowledge of the offensive personnel from his time in Los Angeles and Minnesota.

“He’s been running — ran zone scheme he came from — he did the same thing in Minnesota,” Slowik said Thursday. “He’s really good at reading that, we call it riding the wave, finding the right hole to hit. He always plays under control. When he sees it, he hits it. He finishes physical. And he has really good contact balance and I’d say those are the things that jump out with Cam.”

Houston is looking to go 3-0 for the first time since 2012. Kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans still ‘holding out hope’ RB Joe Mixon will play vs. Vikings

The Houston Texans are still holding out hope that Joe Mixon will suit up for Week 3’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

Entering Friday’s practice, the Houston Texans still have optimism that Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon will play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Mixon hasn’t practiced either day during the open media session, but DeMeco Ryans still isn’t ready to call it one way.

“We’ll take it day by day with Joe and his injury and see where he ends up at the end of the week,” Ryans said Wednesday. “Still holding out hope that he can make it.”

Mixon, who set the tone on the ground with a 159-yard outing in Week 1’s win over the Colts, left during the third quarter with an ankle injury in Sunday’s matchup against the Bears. While he managed to return, he was limited to one carry for one yard in the fourth quarter.

Based on the hit made by Chicago’s T.J. Edwards, it appeared that Mixon was brought down by an illegal hip-drop tackle that should have led to a 15-yard penalty. Officials ruled it a clean hit, though Houston plans to send the footage to the league office for further review.

“When the defender unweights himself and then he puts all of his weight on the runner’s legs, you see why they want to get the hip-drop tackle out of the game,” Ryans said Monday. “Because it causes a lot of injuries when it happens. The hip-drop tackle doesn’t happen much, but the percentage of injury when it does happen is very high and you saw that there with Joe and his ankle. The defender landed on his ankle.”

Mixon, who finished with 50 total yards, did not speak to reporters after Sunday’s game but called out the NFL on social media for not enforcing the rule.

“The NFL and NFLPA made it a rule and an emphasis for a reason,” Mixon wrote on X. “Time to put your money where your mouth is.”

If Mixon can’t go, Houston could be thin at running back. Secondary runner Dameon Pierce is still dealing with a hamstring injury and hasn’t practiced all week, meaning if both are out, Cam Akers would likely take command of the top back.

Akers played for Minnesota last season after being traded by the Los Angeles Rams. In six games, he rushed for 138 yards before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in early November.

“Obviously, I’ve got history there, but it’s just another game,” Akers said when asked if this was a revenge game.

Since arriving in Houston, he’s been one of the major standouts. Akers led all runners in yards during the preseason and caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Case Keenum in the Hall of Fame game.

After Mixon left Sunday’s contest, Akers became the focal runner, totaling 32 yards on seven carries. He also lost a fumble at the goal line, which is something he told reporters was unacceptable.

Kickoff from U.S. Bank Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

Is Sunday a revenge game for Texans RB Cam Akers vs. Vikings?

Houston Texans Cam Akers heads back to Minneapolis for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon.

With Joe Mixon’s status up in the air, the Houston Texans must look elsewhere for running back help.

The first name up? Former Minnesota Vikings starter Cam Akers was arguably Houston’s top tailback during the preseason.

And for those wondering why Dameon Pierce wouldn’t get a crack at RB1, he’s currently dealing with a hamstring injury and hasn’t been at practice for nearly a week.

Akers, who averaged 4.4 yards per attempt during the preseason, rushed for 32 yards on seven carries in last week’s win over the Bears after Mixon went out. He also lost a fumble at the goal line when Houston was driving toward icing the game in the fourth quarter.

During the open locker room session, Akers was asked about his thoughts on returning to Minnesota for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon. For him, there’s no reason to think of “revenge.”

“Obviously, I’ve got history there, but it’s just another game,” Akers told the Houston Chronicle.

Mixon, who suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s win, is listed as day-to-day. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t specify if Mixon would return to practice, but they’re not ruling him out heading into Thursday’s practice.

“We’ll take it day by day with Joe and his injury and see where he ends up at the end of the week,” Ryans said Wednesday. “Still holding out hope that he can make it.”

Akers, a former second-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams, has a strong understanding of Bobby Slowik’s zone-base rushing attack. Last season after being traded to the Vikings, Akers rushed for 138 yards on 38 carries and scored a touchdown before being placed on the injured reserve on Nov. 5.

When asked if he was ready for an increased role should Mixon and Pierce not play, Akers said he was.

“I don’t have to get ready when you stay ready,” Akers told the Houston Chronicle.  “I’ve been preparing for this moment.”

Kickoff from US Bank Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans to send film of hip-drop tackle on RB Joe Mixon to NFL for review

The Houston Texans are taking the hit made against Joe Mixon to the NFL office.

After further review, the Houston Texans want a second opinion from the league office on Sunday night’s missed call. 

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday following a 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears that the hit made by linebacker T.J. Edwards on running back Joe Mixon was indeed an illegal hip-drop tackle. 

Houston plans to send the film, which was not ruled a penalty, to the NFL office for further review.

“With the tackle, it was definitely, in my mind, it’s considered the hip-drop when the defender unweights himself and puts all of his weight on the runner’s legs,” Ryans said after watching the tape. “You see why we want to get the hip-drop tackle out of the game because it causes a lot of injuries when it happens.”

With 11:57 left in the third quarter, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed a pass to Mixon, who tried to hit the sidelines with plans of stopping the clock. Edwards, who last season led Chicago in tackles, drug Mixon to the ground, using his body to crumble the running back’s ankle.

Earlier this offseason, the NFL and the NFLPA  agreed to ban the hip-drop tackle after seeing a rise in lower-body injuries over the past several seasons. According to the ruling, if a player is caught making that type of tackle, it’s a 15-yard penalty and an automatic fresh set of downs.

Mixon, who inked a three-year extension after being traded to Houston this offseason, returned to the game after further medical evaluation but was limited to one carry in the fourth quarter. He finished with 27 yards on nine rush attempts and averaged less than 3.1 yards per play. 

He was not made available to the media afterward and is currently undergoing an MRI. 

“Tough spot to be in,” Ryans said of the play. “That’s why you want to put your body in front and tackle guys in front, and not reaching from behind. The defender was in a bad spot there and he was trying to get Joe down, and the only way is to unweight yourself and put all of your weight on his legs.”

Mixon, who rushed for 159 yards in the season opener over the Colts, tweeted his frustrations after leaving the stadium Sunday night. 

“The NFL and NFLPA made it a rule and an emphasis for a reason,” Mixon posted on X after the game. “Time to put your money where your mouth is.”

The Texans travel to Minneapolis on Sunday to take on the Minnesota Vikings. They’re already down one running back as Dameon Pierce was inactive in Sunday’s win with a hamstring injury.

Texans HC DeMeco Ryans provides update on RB Joe Mixon following potential hip-tackle

DeMeco Ryans said he would have to check the tape to see if Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards performed a hip tackle against Joe Mixon in Sunday’s win.

Joe Mixon’s season likely isn’t over, but the Houston Texans leading rusher is upset with how his night nearly ended against the Chicago Bears.

The star running back injured his ankle with 11:57 left in the third quarter after a potential illegal hip-drop tackle from Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards. Mixon caught a pass from C.J. Stroud and tried to head out of bounds to stop the clock.

Edwards wrapped him up, then rotated his hips, dropping all his weight onto the legs of Mixon, who had his right ankle caught up under Edwards’ body weight. The NFL approved a rule proposal to ban the swivel hip-drop tackle that has caused mainly lower leg injuries in recent years.

Officials did not penalize Edwards as Mixon got up limping and hobbled to the sideline before entering the medical blue tent. He went to the locker room for further treatment on the ankle before returning late in the fourth quarter.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said the play “didn’t look good” from his view but that he would have to see the film evaluate the hit. If Edwards had been flagged, the Texans would have gained 15 yards and a first down en route to a 19-13 win on Sunday Night Football.

“Joe got rolled up. The guy’s weight definitely came down on his ankle,” Ryans said. “We’ll evaluate Joe throughout the week. Hopefully he’s OK.”

Mixon, who last week rushed for an NFL-leading 159 yards, only totaled one carry for seven yards after returning. He finished the night with nine carries for 25 yards.

After the game, Mixon elected not to speak to reporters but did vent his frustrations on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Pro Bowl runner said he asked the referee about the tackle at the moment before heading to the sidelines.

The answer was not what he expected.

“When I got up, I asked the ref where is the flag, that was a hip tackle. & his reply was, no it wasn’t,” Mixon posted.

Mixon, who signed a three-year extension worth $27 million this offseason, is the bellcow back for Houston. Cam Akers finished with a team-high 32 rushing yards but also coughed up the football at the 1-yard line.

“I really didn’t notice (the tackle),” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said of the hit. “I saw him kind of just fall down weird. I was like, ‘Man, that didn’t look good.’ So, I definitely am praying for him.”

Right now, Mixon’s status remains in jeopardy entering Week 3’s road test against an undefeated Minnesota Vikings roster.

“I know he’s a tough guy,” Stroud said. “Just take care of himself right now. Hope he’s back on the field soon.”

Texans RB Joe Mixon tweets out frustation on tackle in Bears game

Joe Mixon tweeted out his frustration after officials missed a hip-drop tackle during Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

The NFL made a rule to protect players by penalizing defenders for using the hip-drop tackle technique in the open field.

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon felt like officials missed that during the third quarter of Sunday night’s game.

Mixon tried to push out of bounds after hauling in a pass from C.J. Stroud in the closing seconds of the third quarter, but Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards came in with the stop. When looking at the initial film, Edwards drops his weight to make Mixon collapse under the pressure.

Mixon tweeted out his frustration and clarified he reached out to officials for a further response, but they didn’t think it was enough to call a penalty.

https://twitter.com/Joe_MainMixon/status/1835546553462792333

The 2021 Pro Bowl was listed as questionable with an ankle injury and entered the medical blue tent. He then left the field to head back to the locker room for further evaluation. And while Mixon did return, it was only for seven plays in the final three series.

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“Joe got rolled up,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “The guy’s weight definitely came down on his ankle. It didn’t look good from my view. We’ll evaluate Joe throughout the week. Hopefully, he’s OK. I’ll have to see the film to see if it really was a hip-drop tackle.”

While the Texans secured a 19-13 victory, penalties — both called and uncalled — were a problem. Houston committed 12 penalties for 115 yards while Chicago was flagged nine times for 60 yards.

But the referees also missed plays beyond Mixon’s hip-drop offense. Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair threw a punch at Bears running back Roschon Johnson, though remained in the game despite NFL rules stating a player should be ejected once a physical altercation is present.

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This isn’t the first time referees have been coy letting potential hip-drop tackles be ignored. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen thought Arizona Cardinals cornerback Kei’Trel Clark delivered one last week and argued with the officials after the play.

Just before kickoff in Houston, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase argued with officials after Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie made an open-field tackle. He ended up getting a 15-yard penalty and clearly was upset that a hip drop penalty wasn’t called.

Mixon’s departure didn’t hurt the Texans’ outcome, but it kept things interesting over the final 15 minutes. Houston needs Mixon as its lead back entering Week 3’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, so his status is crucial to keeping the team afloat.

Watch: RB Joe Mixon scores first TD with Texans

Joe Mixon caps off his perfect debut for the Houston Texans with a game-changing touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.

A new version of Houston Texans football has taken Lucas Oil Stadium by storm.

Joe Mixon continued his dominant debut for his new team with a 3-yard touchdown to give the Texans a two-score lead against the Indianapolis Colts. He’s already become the first running back in two years to rush for 100 yards in a single game midway through the fourth quarter.

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The 13-play, 70-yard drive reached its peak when C.J. Stroud found Nico Collins for 19 yards on third-and-14. Mixon, who’s averaged 5.3 yards per rush attempt, has been the backbone of the offense.

The Colts responded four plays later when Anthony Richardson connected with Ashton Dulin for a 54-yard touchdown.

It’s a fight to the finish between the two AFC South squads with bad blood after last season.

Texans training camp: RB Joe Mixon getting healthy at the right moment

Joe Mixon seems to be getting healthy for the Houston Texans at the right time heading into the last week of training camp.

Joe Mixon likely won’t make his Houston Texans debut until Week 1 on the road against the Indianapolis Colts.

He likely won’t debut in front of a packed NRG Stadium until the following week when the Texans return home for a Sunday Night Football matchup against the Chicago Bears.

But the Texans didn’t trade a late Day 3 pick for Mixon to stand out in the preseason.

They didn’t sign him to a new three-year, $27 million extension to be a star in practice and miss valuable reps in the season.

Mixon is here to stabilize the run game on Sundays and help Houston advance past the AFC Divisional Round. As training camp winds down, he’s nearing full strength after dealing with a quad injury that sidelined him most of the month.

“I feel good,” Mixon said Wednesday following practice. “The only thing is getting used to this heat. It’s hard getting used to that. But other than that, man, getting my legs up under me and (being) able to get that chemistry with the O-line and receivers and, obviously, C.J. (Stroud), it feels great.”

Mixon, a four-time 1,000-yard runner during his seven seasons with the Bengals, has put together several strong practices since working his way back to 100 percent. Wednesday might have been his best practice since joining the squad in March after posting two long runs in the open field after evading a pair of defenders at the line of scrimmage.

The bust, straightline speed and agility were all on display as Mixon showed why there’s still plenty left in the tank heading into Year 8.

“To see Laremy [Tunsil] and to see Joe and see the type of workers that they are, it helps everyone around them to see if you want to be a good player, you have to push and work like those guys work,” coach DeMeco Ryans said.

Mixon, who returned to practice last week, didn’t play in Saturday’s win over the New York Giants. Even if the Texans want to catch him up to speed, it could be wise to leave him on the bench since he’s a sure-fire starter come Week 1.

While the preseason is ideal for Texans’ players, time away in August hasn’t stopped Mixon from putting together back-to-back stellar outings during his final two years with the Bengals. Since earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2021, Mixon has rushed for 1,848 yards and 16 touchdowns without coughing up a turnover.

His preseason snap total in preparation for those campaigns? Five in over two years.

“It’s just obviously getting into that football shape is a little different. I’m sure it’ll be a whole hell of a lot different being in that stadium (NRG Stadium) versus being outside like this in this heat,” Mixon said. “I’m very confident if we go elsewhere, that wind will be there, so it’s all good.”

Kickoff against the Los Angeles Rams is scheduled for noon at NRG Stadium this Saturday. Roster cuts must be made by August 27 at  4 p.m.

Texans: Joe Mixon will start at RB, but who is the No. 2 option?

With just one preseason game remaining, the role of RB No. 2 in the Houston Texans’ backfield might be a five-person race.

When the Houston Texans traded a seventh-round pick to acquire Joe Mixon from the Cincinnati Bengals, it was clear he’d take over for Devin Singletary as the new lead running back.

When Houston inked him to a new three-year extension worth $27 million, it was a sign he’d be the bell-cow back for years to come next to Pro Bowl quarterback C.J Stroud.

That hasn’t changed even with Mixon sidelined for most of training camp. He’s back at practice and will trot out with the first-teamers come Week 1 in Indianapolis against the Colts.

The No. 2 role, however? That battle comes down to this week’s practice and final preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

It won’t be an easy decision, either.

“It’s still a tight competition there in the running back room,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said following Saturday’s 28-10 win over the New York Giants. “We’re excited to see more, continue to see these guys next week.”

Dameon Pierce, Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale, J.J. Taylor and Jawhar Jordan are competing for the final three spots, each providing some value behind a couple of carries. And yes, the preseason won’t tell the entire story of how one fits with the roster.

Pierce, who nearly rushed for 1,000 yards in 2022, has offered little on gamedays, averaging 1.1 yards per run on nine carries. He’s looked polished in practice reps and shown explosivity when working behind Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Tunsil didn’t play in Saturday’s preseason home opener for precautionary reasons after returning to practice for the first time since offseason workouts. Second-round pick Blake Fisher looked like a rookie facing a New York front that features three Pro Bowl talents.

The run blocking has been insufficient at best without the four-time Pro Bow blindside blocker opening lanes on the left side.

But is that a good enough excuse? Multiple other runners have found creases and crevices to break through for yards after contact, albeit against presumed backups.

Could they do it against starters?

“We can’t evaluate guys who aren’t out there,” Ryans said when asked about the limited success on the ground. “But overall, the way our offensive line ran off the ball, the way they moved people and created lanes for our backs, like you run the ball as a team.”

Akers has been a preseason constant, totaling 41 and 31 yards in his first two games back from injury. On Saturday, he put together his most consistent performance, averaging a team-high 4.8 yards per run with a long of 14.

Health has been the main concern for the former second-round pick. In four seasons, Akers has torn both his Achilles tendons and missed over 20 games due to injury, but he understands and fits in Bobby Slowik’s offense.

“His foundational work, I think, has been great in this offense, he’s been in this type of style,” Stroud said. “He’s going to continue to do great, and I’m really loving his game and how patient he is, but he hits the hole at the same time.”

Ogunbowale has been a special teams standout and reliable No. 3 option. He’s a favorite of the coaching staff because of his willingness to do everything.

Maybe Jordan offers a similar role but on an expanded contract? The sixth-round pick finished with 58 total yards, 42 of which came through the air during Saturday’s win while also seeing action on kickoff and the return game.

And Taylor, a favorite to make the practice squad if cut, showed his straight-line speed with a pair of first-down runs, including an 18-yard scamper in the third quarter.

Starters likely won’t see much action on Saturday, but Pierce must deliver. The same goes for Akers and Ogunbowale since Jordan and Taylor won’t go down without a fight.

A combination of inadequate blocking plus limited reps with the starting five has hindered the ground game’s growth. It’s better than what’s been produced and the drop-off from No. 2 to No. 5 is minimal at best.

With three practices left, that’s neither positive nor negative. It’s simply progress.