HOUSTON – The medical and contractual situations involving injured Texans veteran running back Joe Mixon ultimately led to his release Friday, per a league source.
The Texans later made the parting of ways with Mixon official. He was released with a non-football injury designation on the league’s daily personnel notice.
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The injury-riddled saga of Mixon is over.
Mixon missed the entire season with a mysterious foot injury. The former Pro Bowl selection and team captain recently underwent surgery this offseason, according to general manager Nick Caserio.
The Texans had already replaced him by trading for former Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery.
Caserio acknowledged at the NFL scouting combine there was no clarity involving Mixon’s future with the AFC South franchise, adding that there had been conversations with Mixon and his longtime agent, Peter Schaffer.
The Texans were widely expected to ultimately part ways with Mixon via a failed physical, per league sources, and releasing him from his three-year, $27 million contract and save $8 million in the process.
“Honestly, it’s day to day,” Caserio said at the NFL scouting combine. “Looking conversations, trying to get a little bit more information. I think he had a surgery here, this offseason in some capacity. So trying to get some follow-up to that.
“I’ve said this multiple times, I’m not trying to be evasive. It’s a moving target. So, we’ll kind of see what the availability is gonna be, what the prognosis is for the season and then ultimately try to figure out what makes sense for everybody involved.”
Mixon’s foot injury has been the subject of several bizarre and untrue rumors.
Caserio previously cleared up some of the heavy and unsubstantiated speculation surrounding Mixon.
“He didn’t do anything off the field,” Caserio said. “It wasn’t like he was riding a snowmobile or anything like that. I would say it was more of a medical condition or situation that didn’t really improve as much as everyone would hope.”
“I’m not trying to evade the question, I think that’s the reality of the situation. He didn’t jump off a building, he wasn’t cliff diving or anything like that. He wasn’t doing anything irresponsible. It was a freak, thing. Honestly I’ve never seen it, it’s just the condition.”
Mixon was in a walking boot in the spring and his injury prompted the Texans to sign four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb. Mixon later was in a lace-up brace with some improved mobility over the summer. He has sought outside medical help, including nonsurgical procedures, including electromagnetic therapy at a Florida clinic to try to speed up the healing process.
Mixon would get better at times, prompting optimism. Another source said that Mixon hasn’t gotten the proper amount of blood flow for the foot to fully heal and it has been a step forward, step back medical situation.
Mixon missed the entire season on the non-football injury list, as KPRC 2 reported he would in October due to a ‘tough and complicated’ foot-ankle injury, per league sources. During the season, a source emphasized the team wasn’t expecting Mixon to return at any point and that his career is in doubt.
Mixon was in a walking boot in the spring and his injury prompted the Texans to sign four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb. Mixon later was in a lace-up brace with some improved mobility over the summer. He has sought outside medical help, including nonsurgical procedures, including electromagnetic therapy at a Florida clinic to try to speed up the healing process. Mixon would get better at times, prompting optimism. Another source said that Mixon hasn’t gotten the proper amount of blood flow for the foot to fully heal and it has been a step forward, step back medical situation.
When did the team realize that Mixon could miss a significant amount of time?
Caserio indicated last spring, which is when Chubb was signed.
“I don’t think we knew the extent of how long it was gonna be,” Caserio said. “It was touch and go. I’m not trying to create any problems. It was just a moving target. So, we were just trying to figure out, ‘Where are we in the scheme of things, and what do we gotta do moving forward?”
The injury never healed to the point where Mixon was close to returning, though. The Texans didn’t provide much, if any, detail on his status. Sources say that was because they honored Mixon’s wishes for privacy.
Without Mixon, a Pro Bowl selection and team captain two seasons ago as he rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns, the Texans’ running game struggled.
Chubb was signed to replace Mixon. However, Chubb didn’t regain his old form from his time with the Cleveland Browns.
Marks emerged as the primary back and showed flashes. He had one of two 100-yard games for the Texans’ offense, rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown in a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jawhar Jordan rushed for 101 yards against the Arizona Cardinals.
In the 28-16 AFC divisional round loss last Sunday to the New England Patriots, the running game was stonewalled. They rushed for 48 yards on 22 runs. Marks was held to 17 yards on 14 carries and lost a key fumble.
The Texans were 1 for 4 in the red zone, which was a constant issue for a 13-6 squad.
The Texans are expected to look for help for their backfield this off-season. They inquired about Hall at the NFL trade deadline, but no deal materialized.
Without Mixon, the running game missed his dynamic, tackle-breaking presence.
“When you have your best players, you’re going to be a better team,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Joe, he was a really great running back for us and not having him, yes, of course, it affected our running game. Joe is one of the top running backs in this league. That affected us.”
The Texans were widely expected to ultimately move on from Mixon due to his health issues. Now, they have.
“As of right now, I don’t know that answer right now,” Ryans said when asked if Mixon will return for next season. “No clarity.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com