Joe Mixon Injury Update: Should The NFL World Be Concerned?

Injury History

Mixon has had a fantastic career to this date, having completed one of his best seasons at the age of 28. Running backs tend to have a short shelf life in the NFL, as the position is highly physical and comes with significant wear and tear. Dating back to 2020, Mixon has dealt with chronic foot and ankle injuries. In 2020, he suffered a right foot (Lisfranc) injury in Week 6 and ended up missing the remainder of the season. In 2021 and 2022, he suffered ankle sprains but missed no games. As of recently, he suffered a high ankle sprain in 2024, causing him to miss three weeks. Mixon has dealt with a share of injuries throughout his career, and with this latest setback, the question now is how it could impact the start of the season. 

How Serious Could the Injury Be?

Speculating about injuries is never ideal or easy. However, this time of year, as we near the start of the season, fans are anxious to know how severe player injuries are. Not just for their team, but for fantasy football, as thousands of NFL fans start their fantasy football drafts soon. The recent Joe Mixon injury update has sparked concern, especially with his previous foot/ankle injuries. While nothing has been confirmed, the pattern raises some concern about whether these lingering injuries are connected or, at the very least, complicating his recovery.

One of the more credible voices in sports medicine, Dr. Jesse Morse, a board-certified sports medicine physician who frequently analyzes NFL injuries, recently weighed in on Mixon’s situation. He noted that there could be a reason for concern. According to Morse, Mixon has been in a walking boot off and on throughout the offseason. The exact nature of the injury remains unclear. Morse mentioned that the injury could be a lingering high ankle sprain, a midfoot sprain possibly involving the Lisfranc joint, or even a non-healing fracture. Morse also pointed out the specific danger of midfoot injuries. He explained that if the midfoot is unstable or weakened, the arch of the foot may collapse. That makes it difficult or even impossible to plant the foot properly. In many cases, if a midfoot sprain does not heal correctly, it often requires surgery.

A notable comparison is running back Travis Etienne, who suffered a Lisfranc injury early in his rookie year. Etienne missed the entire 2021 season as a result. Morse suggests that if Mixon’s injury does not improve in the coming weeks, he may be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start the season. In a worst-case scenario, he could require season-ending surgery.  

Next Man Up

If Mixon does indeed miss some time in 2025, the Texans have Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, and rookie Woody Marks to step up in his absence. Four-time Pro Bowler Nick Chubb is coming off a season-ending broken foot that he suffered in Week 15. Chubb has dealt with many significant injuries throughout his career, including multiple serious knee injuries. The now 29-year-old was one of the best running backs in the NFL during his prime years. Despite age not being on his side, Chubb has always been resilient. Coming back from his severe knee injury, which he suffered in 2023 and required two separate surgeries, proves his resilience.

Houston can also give rookie Woody Marks a look, as he had a very productive senior year at USC. With Dameon Pierce struggling to make a consistent impact, Houston’s backfield outlook could depend on Chubb’s ability to stay healthy and Marks’ upside to contribute early. At this point, Mixon’s Week 1 availability is purely speculative. There’s still a chance he can be cleared on time for Week 1. Until there’s more clarity, the Texans have to prepare as if they’ll be without Mixon to start the season.