While the running back position has been a strength of the Texans so far, it’s a huge question mark with the two top backs sidelined with injuries as the team prepares to travel to Minnesota to play the Vikings on Sunday.
Leading rushers Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce were both held out of Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices.
Mixon, who ran for 159 yards and a touchdown in his Texans debut during the season opener against the Colts two weeks ago, has the most concerning injury. Mixon suffered what is believed to be a high-ankle sprain during what appeared to be an illegal hip-drop tackle by Chicago Bears’ linebacker T.J. Edwards on Sunday night at NRG Stadium.
The injury isn’t expected to keep Mixon sidelined for long, but it seems less likely he will play against the Vikings. If that is the case and with Pierce still on the mend from a hamstring injury, former Vikings running back Cam Akers would get the nod against his old team.
“We’ll take it day by day with Joe and his injury and see where he ends up at the end of the week,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, whose team is off to a 2-0 start. “Still holding out hope that he can make it.”
In the meantime, there is growing controversy about whether the referees got it wrong with the no-call on the outlawed tackle. Mixon was immediately taken to the locker room to get treated and returned for just one play Sunday night before he was permanently sidelined for the night.
“The NFL and NFLPA made it a rule and an emphasis for a reason,” Mixon posted on X. “Time to put your money where your mouth is.”
“With the tackle, in my mind it is definitely considered the hip drop when a defender unweights himself, and he puts all his weight on the runner’s legs,” Ryans said. “You see why we want to get the hip drop tackle out of the game because it causes a lot of injuries when it happens.”
It was obvious from the point of the injury that the Texans rushing attack had been slowed significantly. The Texans finished with just 75 yards on 22 carries against the Bears. A week earlier Mixon averaged 5.3 yards per carry and the team ran for 213 yards in the win over the Colts.
“Losing Joe [Mixon] was tough for our offense,” Ryans said. “The production that Joe had the first week was beneficial. It was key to our success in the first week.”
