Mixon Down: Texans Camp Opens with Backfield in Crisis

• Star RB Joe Mixon placed on the non-football injury list to start Texans training camp.
• Mixon is expected to miss most of camp, putting his Week 1 status in serious jeopardy.
• The Texans' backfield depth is further strained with Dameon Pierce also on the PUP list.
• Newly acquired veteran Nick Chubb is now expected to handle the primary workload.
• Chubb faces pressure to rebound from a subpar 2024 season with the Browns.

The Houston Texans kicked off training camp on Saturday not with a bang, but with a bombshell. Hopes were sky-high heading into the 2025 season, but a devastating injury update to a key offensive weapon has immediately cast a shadow over the proceedings. Star running back Joe Mixon, fresh off a Pro Bowl season, has been placed on the non-football injury list and is now expected to miss most, if not all, of training camp, putting his Week 1 status in serious jeopardy.

With Joe Mixon sidelined, the Texans now turn to four-time Pro Bowler Nick Chubb, a player who managed just 332 yards on 102 attempts in a difficult previous season with the Browns.

A Brutal Blow to the Ground Game

Just when fans were dreaming of a dynamic one-two punch, the Texans' backfield has been thrown into chaos. The team announced that Mixon is dealing with a lingering foot and ankle issue that will require him to be reevaluated closer to the season opener. This is a massive blow for an offense that was counting on his 1,000-yard production. With fellow back Dameon Pierce also starting camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, the running back room suddenly looks alarmingly thin.

Next Man Up: All Eyes on Chubb

The pressure now shifts squarely onto the shoulders of newly acquired veteran Nick Chubb. While his four Pro Bowl nods are impressive, his recent performance is a major concern. After a subpar 2024 season in Cleveland, can he rediscover his elite form? He'll have to do it behind an offensive line that ranked a concerning 26th in run-blocking last year. Backing him up will be rookie Woody Marks from USC and veteran Dare Ogunbowale, a committee that carries far more questions than answers.

Silver Linings: New Receivers Bring Hope

While the news from the backfield is grim, there's genuine excitement brewing in the receiving corps. Free agent acquisition Christian Kirk took his place as the starting slot receiver, providing a reliable target for C.J. Stroud. The real buzz, however, surrounds rookie Jayden Higgins. With Tank Dell unfortunately expected to miss the season, Higgins, the team's first pick in the draft (No. 34 overall), is being thrust into the WR2 role opposite Nico Collins. His size and athleticism were on full display, offering a potent new dimension to the Texans' aerial assault.

The first day of camp has delivered a gut punch, but also a glimmer of hope. The Texans' Super Bowl aspirations may now hinge on two critical questions: Can a battered backfield led by a reclamation project in Nick Chubb find its footing behind a questionable offensive line? And can the explosive new-look passing attack, led by C.J. Stroud and his new weapons, carry this team while they figure it out? All eyes will be on the running back rotation as camp progresses toward the August 9 preseason opener against the Vikings. The journey just got a lot tougher.