Joe Mixon’s arrival in Houston sparked plenty of fanfare among sections of the Texans’ fanbase, with many expecting the former Bengals tailback to offer up additional liveliness in the backfield alongside star QB C.J. Stroud.
He’s fared well in that respect through his first two games in Houston blue. On Sunday, though, he was stopped in his tracks, having to take to the sidelines after being wrapped up in a crunching — and perhaps illegal — tackle against the Bears.
Here’s what you need to know.
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Joe Mixon injury update
Mixon appeared to suffer the injury after absorbing a hit from T.J. Edwards. The Texans tailback fielded a throw from C.J. Stroud and turned up stream, getting past a would-be tackler in the hopes to making it beyond the first down marker. He was met by Edwards, who pulled Mixon back. Mixon appeared to get his lower leg caught underneath Edwards’ body, a fact he made all the more apparent when he reached around his ankle area at the play’s conclusion.
Joe Mixon ankle injury on a hip controversial tackle #NFL pic.twitter.com/wDDSJvsSxL
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) September 16, 2024
Clearly hobbled, Mixon hopped to the sideline. He limped into the medical tent and stayed in there for some time. After being examined by Houston’s medical personnel, he made his way into the locker room on his own power. Houston announced that Mixon is “questionable” to return to Sunday’s contest with an ankle injury.
Texans Injury Update:
#28 RB Joe Mixon is questionable with an ankle injury.
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 16, 2024
After missing a series, Mixon checked back into the game, seemingly no worse for the wear. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the residual effects of the injury flare up throughout the week and threaten Mixon’s Week 3 status vs. Minnesota.
What is a “hip-drop tackle?”
Edwards’ tackle looked eerily similar to that of the hip-drop tackle — a tackle that involves a defender “wrapping up a ball carrier and rotating or swiveling his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto ball carrier’s legs” while completing the tackle. He wasn’t flagged for the play.
However, many on social media noted the potentially illicit nature of Edwards move. Hip-drop tackles proved increasingly more dangerous for ball carriers — Mark Andrews suffered a fractured fibula and ligament damage after being wrapped up in the hit in November 2023.
Use of a hip-drop tackle is supposed to result in a 15-yard penalty and automatic first down for the offense. That didn’t happen on Sunday night, however. Edwards can still be fined later in the week after the league office reviews the play.
Texans RB depth chart
| 1 | Joe Mixon |
| 2 | Dare Ogunbowale |
| 3 | Cam Akers |
Dameon Pierce would normally be operating as Mixson’s primary backup, but he missed Week 2 because of an ankle injury. Ogunbowale and Akers were used sparingly prior to Mixon’s injury, but if he were to exit again, they would split touches in Houston’s backfield.
