He was supposed to be the missing piece for C.J. Stroud. After a massive 2024 debut where he cracked 1,000 yards, the hype for Joe Mixon’s second year in Houston was through the roof. But then things got weird. Really weird. If you’re checking your fantasy roster or looking at the Texans’ schedule and wondering will joe mixon play week 1, the short answer is a resounding no. In fact, if we're being honest, the situation has turned into one of the most bizarre injury mysteries in recent NFL history.
Football fans usually expect a clear timeline. A hamstring pull takes three weeks. An ACL takes a year. But with Mixon, the Houston Texans have been playing a high-stakes game of "hide the ball." He didn't just miss a few practices; he vanished from the active roster before the season even kicked off.
The NFI List and the Week 1 Ghosting
To understand why Mixon isn't on the field, you have to look back at the summer of 2025. While most of the team was grinding through training camp in the Houston heat, Mixon was placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. This was the first red flag. Being on the NFI list typically means the injury didn't happen during a team practice or a game. It happened on his own time.
Basically, this move automatically sidelined him for the first four games of the 2025 season. So, when Week 1 rolled around against the Los Angeles Rams, Mixon wasn't even in the stadium. He was a ghost.
The team called it a "foot and ankle" issue. That's about as vague as saying a car has "engine problems." Is it a spark plug or a blown transmission? General Manager Nick Caserio hasn't been much help either. He’s used words like "gray" and "ambiguous" to describe the recovery. Honestly, it’s rare to see a team be this tight-lipped about a star player.
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What Really Happened to Joe Mixon?
There’s a ton of noise surrounding this. You’ve probably seen the rumors on Reddit or heard them on sports talk radio. Some people claim Mixon went rogue and had an "unauthorized" surgery—a tightrope procedure—to try and fix a lingering issue faster, only for it to backfire. There are even darker whispers about "necrotic" tissue, though the team has never confirmed anything that extreme.
Here is what we know for sure:
- Mixon has not played a single down in 2025.
- He remained on the NFI list through the midway point of the season.
- By November 2025, major insiders like Ian Rapoport were reporting that Mixon wouldn't play at all this year.
The "will joe mixon play week 1" question has now shifted. It's no longer about the 2025 opener—that ship sailed months ago. Now, the industry is looking at the 2026 season. If he couldn't get right for a single game in 2025, his status for any future Week 1 is officially in jeopardy.
The Texans' New Reality: Life Without Joe
While everyone was waiting for Mixon to emerge from the tunnel, the Texans had to move on. You can't just pause an NFL season because your RB1 is in a walking boot. Houston scrambled and brought in veteran Nick Chubb, who was coming off his own massive knee reconstruction. They also leaned heavily on rookie Woody Marks from USC.
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It hasn't been pretty. The run game has hovered around 23rd in the league. C.J. Stroud has had to carry a much heavier load than the coaching staff intended. You can see the frustration in the offense; they lack that "bell cow" back who can grind out four yards on 3rd-and-2.
Why This Matters for 2026
If you’re still holding onto Mixon in a dynasty league or just hoping he returns for a playoff push, it’s time to face reality. The Texans have a "get out" clause in his contract. By the start of the 2026 league year, they can cut him and save about $8.5 million in cap space.
For a guy approaching 30 with a "complicated" foot injury and over 1,800 career carries, the writing is on the wall. Teams don't usually pay $10 million for a running back who spent an entire year in "the gray area."
Actionable Steps for Fans and Managers
If you are tracking the will joe mixon play week 1 saga for your own team or interest, here is how to handle the next few months:
- Scrub him from 2025 rosters: If you're still stashing him, stop. Reliable reports from November 2025 confirm he is out for the duration of the campaign.
- Watch the March 2026 Waiver Wire: This is when the Texans have to make a choice. If they release him, his career is likely in its final chapter.
- Monitor Woody Marks: The rookie has taken over the lead role. In terms of "Week 1" impact, Marks is the guy you should be watching for the future of this backfield.
- Look for the "Physical": If Mixon signs elsewhere in 2026, pay close attention to the medical reports. A "botched" or "unauthorized" surgery is hard to hide during a team physical.
Stop waiting for a surprise return in 2025. The "mystery" has effectively ended his season, and potentially his time in Houston. Keep your eyes on the 2026 free agency period to see if another team is willing to take a gamble on those veteran legs.