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By Eva Geitheim
Contributing sportswriter
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Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon's ankle injury reportedly is not expected to be long-term or a season-ending injury. The Texans have yet to state an exact timetable for Mixon, and his eventual return will likely depend on how much he is able to practice. The Texans have yet to determine if he will miss any games, per ESPN's Dan Graziano.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday that he believes Mixon sustained the ankle injury on a banned hip-drop tackle during their 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears. Mixon left the game during the third quarter for his ankle but returned to play seven more snaps in the win.
Ryans added that the Texans are taking his injury "day by day."
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"We'll see on the injury," Ryans said, via ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime. "We'll evaluate Joe as we go throughout the week. Just take it day by day."
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Mixon has gotten off to a strong start to his tenure with the Texans since joining the team over the offseason. The former Cincinnati Bengal had a fantastic debut in Week 1 for Houston, rushing for 159 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. He was not as effective in the win over the Bears, rushing for 25 yards on nine carries, but was also limited in the second half because of his injury.
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The Texans are thin at running back amid the injury to Mixon. The Texans were already without Dameon Pierce against the Bears, and Pierce did not practice Wednesday.
If Mixon and Pierce are unable to go or limited during the Texans' Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, the Texans will rely on Cam Akers. Akers signed with the Texans in July and would be facing his former team since he last played for the Vikings in 2023. Akers missed much of the season because of an Achilles injury and appeared in only six games for Minnesota.
"I'm ready ... I've been preparing for this moment," Akers said Wednesday, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. "I'm ready for it, I'm ready to take advantage."
Regardless of their current lack of depth at running back due to injuries, the Texans seem to have an endless supply of weapons for quarterback C.J. Stroud and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
The Texans simply have a loaded receiving core with receivers Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Stefon Diggs, and tight end Dalton Schultz. The Vikings' defense and defensive coordinator Brian Flores will provide a tough test, but the Texans have the ammunition to keep their offense moving.
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