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When is Joe Mixon coming back? Will Joe Mixon play again this season? Read about Joe Mixon's return date and injury updates for 2025.
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) has officially been placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. This designation means he will miss at least the first four games of the 2025 NFL season, creating immediate headaches for fantasy football managers.
Mixon was expected to anchor Houston’s backfield once again after posting strong numbers in 2024. Instead, his absence opens the door for uncertainty, both in the Texans’ offense and in fantasy draft rooms.
The key questions now are when Mixon might return, how effective he’ll be when he does, and whether he’s worth targeting in drafts. Let’s break it down.
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When Will Joe Mixon Return?
The team has confirmed that Mixon is dealing with an ankle injury, which has kept him sidelined during OTAs, minicamp, and training camp. He entered camp wearing a walking boot, and since then, the Texans have provided little information about the severity of the injury. When teams remain silent about a player's condition, it often indicates a combination of setbacks and uncertainty.
Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans recently described his backfield depth as players who can “get us through the season,” a telling phrase that suggests the team is preparing for an extended absence.
Adding to the concern, Texans general manager Nick Caserio was asked directly whether Mixon would play this year and gave no assurances, saying only, “We’ll see.” That lack of clarity casts significant doubt on whether fantasy managers will see him on the field at all in 2025.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio was noncommittal about whether Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon will play in 2025.
Story via @Djbienaime:https://t.co/ZZUsqNxk1x
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2025
Joe Mixon Fantasy Football Outlook
Last year was Mixon’s first with Houston after seven years in Cincinnati. He logged 245 carries for 1,016 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, plus 36 receptions for 309 yards and one TD. On paper, those are solid, RB2 numbers. However, the overall picture paints a less encouraging story.
Mixon’s best stretch came during Nico Collins’ midseason absence, when the Texans leaned heavily on the run. He averaged 22 carries over six games in that span. Once Collins returned, Mixon’s workload fell off a cliff, followed by an ugly post-bye fade (averaging 48.5 yards per game with zero touchdowns across Weeks 15–18). He finished the fantasy season as RB27, RB37, RB34, and RB52.
His efficiency metrics also trended downward. Mixon ranked 24th in receptions among RBs, recorded only one receiving touchdown, and posted career lows in catch rate (69.2%) and yards after contact (55.5%). For a player entering his ninth season at age 29, the cliff is fast approaching. Since 2010, fewer than 5% of peak RB seasons have come from players 29 years old or older.
Whatever is going on with Joe Mixon, it is not good! @profootballdoc and @evansilva discuss the uncertainty around the Texans running back. pic.twitter.com/GTfFC1wLk1
— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) August 27, 2025
Should Fantasy Managers Draft Joe Mixon in 2025?
I was already fading Mixon this preseason at RB16, unwilling to trust him as an RB2. The combination of age, declining efficiency, and a concerning injury history (he has only played a full season twice in his career) made him a risky investment even before he showed up to OTAs in a boot.
Now, with the NFI designation and no clear return timeline, his fantasy value has cratered. RotoBaller currently ranks him as RB66, making him essentially undraftable in standard formats. Unless you’re in a league with deep benches, multiple IR spots, or want to take a late-round flier, Mixon simply isn’t worth the headache.
The safer play is to let someone else burn draft capital on name recognition. Even if Mixon returns in October, the odds of him reclaiming his past workload are slim, and the Texans’ vague language around his status is alarming.
Treat Mixon as a late-round stash only in deeper formats. Otherwise, fade him entirely in 2025 drafts.
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