Team news: Houston Texans | Page 3

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.

The pecking order for Texans WRs as of right now.
Nico Collins and Christian Kirk got the two top spots.
Xavier Hutchinson appears to be the next guy up. But Jayden Higgins will rotate in there.
Same with Jaylin Noel.

The top-two names aren't really a surprise, but it gets interesting seeing Hutchinson's name mentioned as the team's WR3, a spot many assumed would go to Higgins. We reported a few weeks ago that Noel was a quality WR for the team, but there just wasn't a spot for him in the lineup, and that seems to remain the case. This could be a situation to keep an eye on, especially if Hutchinson continues to be mentioned as the WR3. It's hard to believe Higgins won't be among the team's top-three WRs at some point sooner than later.

The Eagles acquired WR John Metchie from the Texans in exchange for TE Harrison Bryant. The teams are also swapping day three picks in 2026.

The Texans were looking for a tight end after Brevin Jordan suffered a season-ending knee injury last week and Metchie was starting to become buried on the depth chart in Houston. For the Eagles, Metchie will compete with the likes of Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith for roles behind the top two of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Jaylin Noel: Can't really figure out how he gets on the field a ton right now.

Related players: Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins

The post went on to say with Kirk in the mix and Higgins ticketed for outside work, there isn't really a spot for Noel. However, the post went on to say there is confidence Noel is a good player who would shine if given opportunities in this offense. Right now, Noel seems more like a very late sleeper pick in redraft leagues, and a guy you maybe tuck away in dynasty leagues until he gets his chance. It could take an injury for Noel to get his chance, especially if Kirk continues to play well.

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.

As C.J. Stroud evolves in his NFL journey, one of his main focuses this offseason has been body transformation.

The Houston Texans' quarterback understood his training would have "risk and reward," but heading into Year 3, he felt he needed a change.

"I've been working really hard on getting my body right -- losing body fat, trying to be faster, stronger," Stroud said. "And it went really well. ... [Working] pocket mobility, running out the pocket, throwing the rock. Everything kind of works hand in hand."

The story said the extra work left him with general soreness in his throwing shoulder that caused him to miss practices this spring, but he felt it was necessary after he saw dips in passing yards (3,727) and touchdowns (20) in Year 2 after being named the Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowler in a season where he had 4,108 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. As the story added, he also threw 12 interceptions last season, seven more than his rookie year.