In a surprising development ahead of their divisional playoff matchup, the Houston Texans have listed star running back Joe Mixon as questionable to play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. Mixon, who has been a key cog in the Texans’ surprising playoff run, missed practice on Thursday with an ankle injury after being limited on Wednesday. The news casts doubt on his availability for the biggest game of Houston’s season.
Mixon’s Importance to the Texans Offense
Mixon’s potential absence would be a major blow for a Texans team that has relied heavily on the running game during their Cinderella postseason journey. The veteran back earned Pro Bowl honors this season after rushing for over 1,000 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. His physical running style and ability to break tackles have been instrumental in wearing down opposing defenses and controlling the clock.
In last week’s wild card upset over the Chargers, Mixon rushed for 106 hard-earned yards on 25 carries, sealing the victory with a fourth quarter touchdown run. His presence keeps defenses honest and opens up opportunities for second-year quarterback Davis Mills in the play-action passing game. Without Mixon, the Texans’ ball-control approach could be compromised.
Next Man Up: Dameon Pierce
If Mixon is unable to suit up on Saturday, the Texans will turn to talented backup Dameon Pierce to shoulder the load in the running game. The hard-charging rookie has flashed when given opportunities this season, including a 176-yard outburst against the Titans in Week 18 that helped Houston clinch a playoff berth. While not as proven as Mixon, Pierce runs with a similar downhill style and has the trust of his coaches and teammates.
“Dameon’s been preparing like a starter all year, even when Joe’s healthy. We know he’ll be ready to answer the call if his number is called on Saturday. He’s a special talent.”
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans on Dameon Pierce
Texans Have Overcome Adversity Before
While potentially being without their offensive centerpiece is far from ideal, the Texans have proven resilient all season long. With Mixon sidelined for three games earlier in the year, Houston managed a 2-1 record, including an impressive road win over the Buffalo Bills. Coach Ryans and his staff have instilled a next-man-up mentality that the players have fully bought into.
- Other Texans listed as questionable for Saturday: WR Robert Woods (hip), LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), TE Teagan Quitoriano (calf)
- Mixon’s 2024 regular season stats: 1,016 rushing yards (15th in NFL), 11 touchdowns (T-11th)
The Texans will certainly hope to have Mixon available as they aim to pull off another upset over Patrick Mahomes and the mighty Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. But if the star back is limited or can’t go, don’t count out this gritty Houston squad. They’ve defied expectations all year long and will look to do so again on the road to an improbable Super Bowl appearance.
