rewrite this title Texans have potential backfield concerns after Joe Mixon injury update

Last season, Mixon had 245 carries, 1,016 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in 14 regular-season games. 

On Wednesday, the Texans placed him on the NFI list. Texans reporter DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN noted that Mixon also did not participate in the team’s organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp earlier this offseason.

Mixon, who Houston traded for in a March 2024 deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, is entering the second year of a three-year, $25.5 million extension he signed after being acquired. 

He isn’t the only Texans running back with an injury concern. 

Fourth-year veteran Dameon Pierce began training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with an undisclosed injury.

Seldom-used fifth-year back J.J. Taylor (undisclosed) was placed on the PUP list at the start of camp, leaving 2025 free-agent signing Nick Chubb, rookie Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks and Jawhar Jordan as the team’s healthy backs.

Chubb, 29, was arguably the league’s best running back in 2022, but a devastating 2023 ACL injury halted his momentum.

Last season, he appeared in eight games for the Cleveland Browns and averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry, gaining 332 yards on 102 attempts.

The Texans signed him to a one-year, $2.5 million contract in March.

Ogunbowale has 166 career rush attempts in eight seasons, while Jordan, a 2024 sixth-round pick, and Brooks, a 2024 undrafted free agent, combined for one carry as rookies.

Marks, Houston’s fourth-round pick (No. 116 overall) in April’s NFL draft, arguably has the most upside of the team’s healthy backs. As a fifth-year senior last season at USC, Marks had 198 carries, 1,133 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and nine rushing touchdowns while proving to be a commodity in the pass game with 47 receptions.

While the active members will have a chance to make their case for playing time this fall with a strong camp, Houston likely needs Mixon to be healthy and produce at his 2024 clip to get the most out of its offense. 

Based on his nagging injury, that might not be anytime soon.