Running back Joe Mixon has indicated that his NFL career has concluded, telling former teammates that he is finished playing football. According to Texans reporter Aaron Wilson, Mixon has communicated this decision after missing the entire last season due to a mysterious leg injury, the details of which were not widely disclosed.
Mixon was initially ruled out for the first four weeks of the previous season but ultimately did not play. Houston Texans General Manager Nick Caserio acknowledged the team's uncertainty regarding Mixon's recovery progress, describing the situation as a "freak medical situation."
Prior to the free agency period on March 6, the Texans released Mixon at his request, which freed up $8 million in salary cap space. In his only full season with the Texans in 2024, Mixon recorded 1,016 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry despite playing behind a struggling offensive line.
Mixon spent seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he accumulated 6,412 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. He was a key contributor to the Bengals' Super Bowl run in 2021, rushing for 262 yards and one touchdown across four playoff games.
The Texans' backfield will now be led by new acquisition David Montgomery and rookie fourth-round pick Woody Marks in Mixon's absence.