The Houston Texans released veteran running back Joe Mixon on Friday, March 6, 2026, after Mixon missed the entire 2025 NFL season with a foot injury. Mixon had requested his release the day prior, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The departure closes a complicated chapter for a back who delivered one of the more productive single-season performances in recent Texans history before his body failed him entirely the following year.
Mixon, 29, never played a snap in 2025 after suffering a foot injury during the offseason — the specifics of which Houston never publicly disclosed. Without their top back, the Texans leaned on rookie Woody Marks, who led the team with 703 rushing yards, and free-agent addition Nick Chubb, who contributed 506 yards on the ground. Those numbers kept the Houston run game functional, but neither back matched the production Mixon had delivered the season before.
How Did Houston Acquire Joe Mixon?
The Houston Texans acquired Mixon via trade from the Cincinnati Bengals in March 2024, after the Bengals had been expected to release him outright. Houston bet on a motivated veteran looking to prove himself in a new system, and the gamble paid off immediately — at least in year one. Mixon rewarded that faith with a standout debut season before the foot injury derailed everything in 2025.
The trade represented a calculated roster construction decision by Houston’s front office. Rather than drafting a running back or paying premium free-agent prices, the Texans acquired a proven commodity at a discount, absorbing a player the Bengals were prepared to let walk. Breaking down the advanced metrics from that 2024 season, Mixon’s efficiency in the red zone and his ability to function as a dual threat out of the backfield made him one of the more cost-effective backs in the AFC that year. The numbers suggest the acquisition delivered strong value on a per-dollar basis — until the foot injury erased year two entirely.
Joe Mixon’s Stats and 2024 Playoff Run With the Houston Texans
Joe Mixon rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2024 regular season with Houston, earning Pro Bowl honors in his first year with the club. He then carried that momentum into the postseason, adding 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns across the Texans’ 2024 playoff run. Houston’s postseason ended with a divisional-round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Those playoff figures deserve context. Mixon’s 194 rushing yards in a single postseason run placed him among the more productive backs in Texans postseason history, and his two scores reflected a team that trusted him in high-leverage situations. Based on available data from that stretch, Mixon functioned as the engine of Houston’s ground attack when the offense needed to control possession and manage the clock against elite AFC competition. The loss to Kansas City ended what had been a legitimate deep-run threat, but Mixon’s individual contribution to that run was substantial.
Key Developments in the Joe Mixon Situation
Mixon personally requested his release on Thursday, March 5, 2026, one day before the Texans granted it, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The foot injury Mixon sustained during the 2025 offseason was described as “mysterious,” with Houston never publicly disclosing the specific diagnosis.
Rookie Woody Marks led the Houston Texans in rushing during the 2025 season with 703 yards, filling the void left by Mixon’s absence.
Free-agent signing Nick Chubb contributed 506 rushing yards for Houston in 2025, giving the Texans a two-back rotation without Mixon.
Mixon earned Pro Bowl recognition following his 2024 season with Houston — 1,016 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns — before missing all of 2025.
What Does the Texans’ Backfield Look Like After Mixon’s Release?
With Mixon gone, the Houston Texans enter the 2026 offseason with Woody Marks and Nick Chubb as the primary options at running back based on their 2025 production. Marks, a rookie who topped 700 rushing yards in his debut season, figures to factor prominently into any depth chart discussion going forward. The front office now faces a decision about whether to invest in a veteran addition, target a back in the NFL Draft, or trust the internal options already on the roster.
The salary cap implications of Mixon’s release will depend on the contract structure Houston negotiated when it acquired him from Cincinnati in 2024, details of which were not disclosed in available reporting. What is clear is that the Texans now have a genuine need at a position they had considered addressed. Marks showed enough promise in 2025 to warrant a featured role, but his 703-yard total came in a context shaped by necessity rather than design. Whether Houston pursues a veteran back in free agency or leans on its draft strategy to address the position will define the next phase of this roster rebuild.
The film from Marks’ 2025 campaign shows a back with functional vision between the tackles and the ability to generate yards after contact, but the sample size is limited to one season of emergency deployment. Chubb’s 506 yards suggest he can still contribute as a complementary piece, though his history of significant knee injuries introduces durability questions that any honest roster evaluation must account for. The numbers suggest Houston’s backfield is functional but not yet settled heading into the offseason.
Marcus Cole is a former college quarterback who has spent over 12 years covering the NFL as a sportswriter. After playing four seasons at the collegiate level, he transitioned to journalism and quickly earned a reputation for breaking down complex play designs in plain English. His work has been featured in regional sports publications across the South, and he has covered six Super Bowls from the press box. Marcus specializes in offensive scheme analysis, quarterback evaluations, and draft coverage.
