The Houston Texans are getting a bit more to return to their backfield heading into their third preseason game.
Running back Joe Mixon returned to practice Sunday evening for the first time in two weeks. Mixon, the expected primary starter, hasn’t been dealing with a lower-body injury that’s sidelined him from running drills.
Texans running back, Joe Mixon who has missed time nursing an injury, is dressed for today’s training camp practice pic.twitter.com/bo7LALJRKh
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) August 11, 2024
Before leaving for the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, Mixon looked to be on the rebound. While he wasn’t practicing next to Dameon Pierce, Jawhar Jordan and others, he stood next to running backs coach Danny Barrett during drills.
The Texans chose not to play Mixon in either of their previous two preseason games away from NRG Stadium and could elect to rest Mixon to have him fully healthy for the Week 1 opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Houston plans for Mixon to be a centerpiece of the offense, given his experience and consistency. He’s coming off his fourth 1,000-yard season with the Cincinnati Bengals and has averaged 4.3 yards per run over the past six seasons.
The Texans’ run game was abysmal last season behind Devin Singletary and a regressed Pierce, hence why they traded a late-round pick to Cincinnati to land him before being released.
The AFC South champs also have invested in Mixon as a focal point of the offense beyond 2024, extending his contract by three years on a new deal worth $27 million.
Joe Mixon Fired up to be back suited up at practice! LFG
pic.twitter.com/hi85dbh4UB
— CJ Anderson SzN
(@AyooTexanNation) August 11, 2024
So far, Houston hasn’t been able to get much going on the ground without the former Pro Bowl runner. Pierce totaled four yards on four carries in Friday’s 20-12 win over the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. No player with multiple carries averaged more than 3.9 yards per attempt.
Mixon, who’s averaged roughly 19 touches per game, will look to become the first Texans tailback since Carlos Hyde in 2019 to finish with 1,000 yards on the ground.
He also plans to factor in as a security blanket for C.J. Stroud on passing downs.
Joe mixon has helmet and looks to be practicing today #Htownmade pic.twitter.com/VUogkEcc4B
— 713SPORTS (@713SPORTSS) August 11, 2024
“He would love to be used as a passing threat,” Slowik said earlier this preseason. “He would love to be a protector. He would love when he carries the rock. He loves when he’s a decoy. I mean, he just loves all of it. He’s been an absolute joy in every regard to coach. He’s a really fun personality.”
Mixon could make his Texans debut on Saturday against the New York Giants in the home preseason opener. Kickoff from NRG Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.