While the Houston Texans didn’t land one of the top free-agent running backs, general manager Nick Caserio found an alternative in Joe Mixon, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Houston traded for the running back instead of waiting for Cincinnati to release him, which was previously reported as his fate after the Bengals signed Zack Moss.
Texans fans aren’t the only ones fond of the move. ESPN personality and “First Take” host Stephen A. Smith sounded excited about Mixon playing with quarterback C.J. Stroud in Houston.
“I like Joe Mixon a lot,” Smith said. “The way C.J. Stroud is looking in Houston, along with the weapons that I’m expecting them to have available to them — I like Mixon in Houston.”
First Take speaks on Joe Mixon trade to the Houston Texans:
“I think this is a good fit and definitely a loss for the Cincinnati Bengals” – Stephen A. Smith
“Now you got depth at the RB position I like what the Texans have done thus far” – Shannon Sharpe #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/jaoZeOKvgL
— 📺 TEXAN-TEA TV 📺 (@TexanTeaTv) March 12, 2024
Smith highlighted Mixon’s production and ability to stay on the field. The 27-year-old back rushed for more than 1,000 yards four times in his seven-year career, including two of the past three seasons. Mixon also appeared in 47 of 51 games in the past three years.
Mixon joins 2022 fourth-round pick Dameon Pierce in the backfield and will replace Devin Singletary, who led the team in rushing yards a year ago before he agreed to a deal with the New York Giants.
Pierce experienced a sophomore slump, but he is a solid back who flashed potential in his rookie season when he ran 939 yards in 13 games.
“You have nice depth in Houston,” Shannon Sharpe added. “You have Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce—two guys who can run the ball.”
The move reunites Mixon with his former offensive coordinator, Bill Lazor, who works as a senior offensive analyst for the Texans. Lazor was the Bengals’ offensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018 — Mixon’s first two years in the NFL. He ran for 1,794 yards and 12 touchdowns and added 73 receptions and 583 yards during those two seasons.
Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and Bengals head coach Zac Taylor never appeared on the same staff but come from the same coaching tree as well: Slowik learned under San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, and Taylor served under Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay.
Given the similar schemes, Mixon should be familiar with the offense. Houston hopes the move sparks its rushing offense, which ranked in the bottom-10 in yards per carry and rushing touchdowns. Improved health along the offensive line and the addition of Mixon should boost those numbers.
The Texans’ backs performed well a year ago in the fumble department. Houston coughed up the ball 17 times, the eighth-fewest in the league. Mixon has not fumbled in the past two seasons despite carrying the ball 467 times and has just six fumbles in his seven-year career.
