After previously being non-committal on Joe Mixon's return from injury this season, Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Tuesday his running back — while progressing — needs another month before a decision is made on his availability while on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list.

"He's making progress, so we won't put a particular timetable on it, so I think over the next few three or four weeks, we'll probably get a little more information here, kind of see how he's progressing," Caserio said. "Once we kind of get to that period, probably have a better sense of which way it's going to go for the duration of the year."

Related players: Woody Marks, Nick Chubb, Dare Ogunbowale

Sidelined throughout spring activities, training camp and the preseason, a prolonged foot injury jeopardized Mixon's return to the lineup in 2025, the story went on to say. It at least sounds like the team expects Mixon to make a return this year, but when that will be is anyone's guess at this point. As long as you have an IR spot, it's OK to keep Mixon on your roster, but even IR spots can be valuable as the season goes on. For now, Marks and Chubb look like they will carry the load in the backfield for Houston.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans specifically indicated that Joe Mixon is not ready to return at this time. Per sources, it will be much longer, if at all, for Mixon to get back on the field this season

Related Players: Nick Chubb, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale

Even in a blowout, 26-0 win in Week 4, Ogunbowale recorded exactly one snap, so with Joe Mixon seemingly out for most of, if not all, of the season, it's down to Chubb and Marks. After Marks' breakout game, the rookie could very well start to take over a majority of the snaps going forward, which makes him a priority pick-up in every league size.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio was noncommittal about whether Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon will play in 2025.

Caserio was asked Wednesday morning if Mixon would suit up at all this season but did not provide any clarity on the status of the team's leading rusher from last season.

"We'll see. We'll take it one day at a time," Caserio said. "We'll evaluate those players after four weeks and see where they are in their progression and then make a determination."

Related Players: Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale

Mixon has been undraftable for a while now, but even stashing him away seems to be a hard pill to swallow at this point. Chubb will hold the RB1 title for now, but he looked pretty rough upon returning from a major injury last season. Woody Marks is one of the best last-round picks you can make at the moment.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans declined to give an update on running back Joe Mixon’s status at a press conference on Monday, but the Texans provided one a little later in the day.

Mixon was placed on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp and the team announced that he will be placed on the reserve version of the list at the cut to 53 players on Tuesday. The move will make Mixon unable to play in the first four games of the season.

Related players: Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale

Mixon injured his foot while he was away from the team ahead of camp, the story went on to say. Chubb is in line to be the starting running back in Week 1, but he didn't look great last year and was likely still recovering from his knee injury. However a hot start could make it tough for Mixon to get his job back, the story speculated. Those who follow the team feel Chubb, Pierce, Marks and Ogunbowale will all make the team if Mixon has to miss time.

Joe Mixon suffered a non-football injury that hasn't been disclosed, but Aaron Wilson who follows the team, says he has had a tough and complicated recovery.

Related players: Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale

There is no structural damages but Mixon has dealt with shots and breaking up scare tissue. Wilson added the team wouldn't have to pay Mixon because it was a non-football injury, but likely won't go down that road and cause issues. Wilson said there should be clarity soon, but Mixon doesn't seem to be ready in his opinion. Wilson thinks Mixon will likely start on the non-football injury list.

This is why the Texans felt it was necessary to go out and get Nick Chubb in free agency. Chubb will likely serve as the lead back until Joe Mixon returns, whenever that may be.

Related Players: Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks

Pierce saw a lowly 16.4% of the team's snap share in 2024, and Marks is a Day 2 rookie, so this makes sense. With that said, Marks still makes a very interesting late-round dart throw, as Chubb has dealt with his own major injury in the recent past and it's clear the coaching staff doesn't think too highly of Pierce.

The last I reported was that Joe Mixon would miss the entire preseason and maybe longer. What I would say is no one has expressed major concern to me about him being out for the entire season. There has been caution about him returning in Week 1. So I do think it’s possible he could begin the regular season on the physically unable to perform/reserve list, in which case he’d miss the first four games.

He hasn’t been seen out at practice, nor has he worked off to the side, which would indicate he’s not two to three weeks away from returning from the foot or ankle injury he suffered off the field this past offseason.

Related Players: Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks

The foot/ankle injury was enough of a worry for the team to go out and get Chubb, and it doesn't seem like there has been any change in the following weeks/months. Mixon should be avoided until we get clarity on the matter, but any further dings to his efficiency would make him a stay-away anyways.

Texans RB Joe Mixon is expected to miss an extended period of time with a foot and ankle injury.

Mixon has been in a walking boot and, according to Rapoport, has been dealing with this issue for months. Mixon will be reevaluated closer to Week 1. He should at least be considered questionable for the Texans’ season opener September 7 against the Rams. The Texans added Nick Chubb this offseason and still have Dameon Pierce in the backfield.

Texans placed RB Joe Mixon on the Non-Football Injury list.

Related Players: Nick Chubb, Woody Marks, Dameon Pierce

Maybe the Chubb signing was a little more necessary than we thought at first? Schefter followed this tweet up with the idea that he is "expected to be OK fairly soon", so we'll keep an eye on the matter. Mixon should continue to be regarded as a fantasy RB2 as it stands, with Chubb more of a contingency bet as an RB4/5.

Sources: Browns free agent RB Nick Chubb, one of the most decorated players available, is expected to sign with the Texans on Monday if all goes well with his physical, sources say.

Chubb’s 2024 ended prematurely with an injury, but now he could return for more in Houston.

Related Players: Joe Mixon, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale, Dameon Pierce

If everything goes through without a hitch, both Ogunbowale and Pierce could be in a battle for an eventual roster spot. As Rapoport said, Chubb's season was cut short, but it wasn't a particularly prolific one when he was on the field. Chubb had the exact same YPA as D'Onta Foreman (3.3) and was easily outpaced by Ford in YPA (5.4) and yards after contact per attempt (3.5-to-2.7).

With the addition of Woody Marks in the fourth round, we'd take a wait-and-see approach before we skyrocket Chubb all the way up the rankings.