Joe Mixon injury update today: Texans star still without timetable as backfield adapts in Week 8

Joe Mixon remains sidelined with a lingering foot/ankle issue, and as of Tuesday, October 21, 2025, there is still no firm timetable for the Houston Texans running back to return. The veteran has yet to play a snap this season after opening on the Non-Football Injury list and later transitioning to reserve status, which paused any near-term hopes of a quick comeback. Recent updates suggest the organization will reassess over the next several weeks, but nothing has been set in stone. With the schedule approaching the midpoint, the uncertainty around Mixon has become one of the defining variables of Houston’s offense.

Joe Mixon injury: what we know and what’s still unclear

The core facts haven’t changed: Mixon has been dealing with a stubborn foot/ankle problem since the summer. He did not take part in training camp, remained out through the first eligibility window to return, and continues rehab away from game action. Team officials earlier this month declined to project a return date, indicating they need more information before charting a path to activation. That keeps everything from conditioning benchmarks to contact work on a wait-and-see timeline.

There’s also a calendar reality to consider. Even if Mixon clears medical hurdles, Houston would still need to ramp him through practice, test change-of-direction and acceleration, and decide whether game speed in late October or early November is prudent. For a player whose value is built on burst through the hole and balance after contact, rushing the last 10% of recovery carries obvious risks.

Texans depth chart without Joe Mixon

Houston prepared for contingency. Veteran Nick Chubb has taken the early-down lead, with rookie Woody Marks earning a gradually larger share as the staff mixes fresh legs and receiving chops into the plan. The rotation has tilted game-to-game based on opponent fronts and game script, but the broader shape is clear:

• Lead runner: Chubb’s power game sets the tone on first and second down.

• Change-up/receiving: Marks offers tempo and outlet value on third downs and two-minute drives.

• Short yardage & goal-to-go: The staff has been comfortable leaning on the line in heavier sets, an area Mixon typically enhances with vision and patience when healthy.

Without Mixon’s all-phase profile, Houston has emphasized predictable identities on each series—either battering inside zones to control clock or using quick passes to simulate a run game. It isn’t as flexible as the original blueprint, but it’s functional enough to keep the offense on schedule when paired with timely explosives in the passing game.

Fantasy football outlook for Joe Mixon in Week 8 and beyond

For managers, the decision narrows to roster math and risk tolerance. With no target date, Mixon profiles as a stash only in leagues with ample bench or injured slots. Key considerations:

• Return window: The team expects more clarity in the next few weeks, but that does not guarantee activation.

• Playoffs calculus: If your league’s trade deadline is near, evaluate whether a hypothetical December return meaningfully upgrades a playoff lineup.

• Replacement value: Chubb projects as an every-week starter while Marks is a matchup-driven flex whose role can spike if Houston chases points or faces heavy blitz rates that favor check-downs.

If you’re contending and thin at RB, a two-for-one trade that turns Mixon into immediate touches may be justified. Rebuilders or deep-bench squads can afford to wait in case the rehab corner is turned in November.

How Houston can survive the wait

The Texans can offset the Mixon void by doubling down on three levers:

1. Early-down efficiency: Stay ahead of the chains with duo and mid-zone, even when boxes are heavy, to keep play-action credible.

2. Backfield targets: Expand the screen and angle-route menu for Marks to approximate Mixon’s receiving impact.

3. Red-zone sequencing: Use motion and condensed splits to generate leverage for Chubb at the goal line, stealing the easy yards Mixon often manufactures with patience.

Defensively driven game plans also help—shortening games and prioritizing field position reduce the number of possessions where a missing star runner is felt.

The bigger picture for Joe Mixon and the Texans

Mixon’s 2024 arrival in Houston reshaped the offense with downhill authority and late-season scoring punch. The 2025 absence underscores how central he is to the design: inside-out rushing to set up play-action, plus protection reliability that unlocks deeper route trees. Until he’s back, Houston’s ceiling depends on how efficiently it can blend Chubb’s power with Marks’ versatility while keeping the quarterback upright.

Recent updates indicate the situation is still developing and the club won’t speculate until the next evaluation window. For now, the operative phrase remains the same: no timetable. When that changes, it will be because Mixon has checked enough boxes—plant, cut, and finish through contact—to return at full speed, not 85%. That patience could pay off down the stretch, but the clock is very much part of the story.