Joe Mixon’s season likely isn’t over, but the Houston Texans leading rusher is upset with how his night nearly ended against the Chicago Bears.
The star running back injured his ankle with 11:57 left in the third quarter after a potential illegal hip-drop tackle from Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards. Mixon caught a pass from C.J. Stroud and tried to head out of bounds to stop the clock.
the man making this tackle on Joe Mixon should be put in cuffs…
pic.twitter.com/OMUX4Z2Oae— Gavin McHugh (@gavinmchughh) September 16, 2024
Edwards wrapped him up, then rotated his hips, dropping all his weight onto the legs of Mixon, who had his right ankle caught up under Edwards’ body weight. The NFL approved a rule proposal to ban the swivel hip-drop tackle that has caused mainly lower leg injuries in recent years.
Officials did not penalize Edwards as Mixon got up limping and hobbled to the sideline before entering the medical blue tent. He went to the locker room for further treatment on the ankle before returning late in the fourth quarter.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said the play “didn’t look good” from his view but that he would have to see the film evaluate the hit. If Edwards had been flagged, the Texans would have gained 15 yards and a first down en route to a 19-13 win on Sunday Night Football.
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans on status of Joe Mixon: “Joe got rolled up. The guy’s weight definitely came down on his ankle. Didn’t look good from my view. We’ll evaluate Joe throughout the week. Hopefully he’s okay. Have to see the film and see if it was really a hip drop tackle.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 16, 2024
“Joe got rolled up. The guy’s weight definitely came down on his ankle,” Ryans said. “We’ll evaluate Joe throughout the week. Hopefully he’s OK.”
Mixon, who last week rushed for an NFL-leading 159 yards, only totaled one carry for seven yards after returning. He finished the night with nine carries for 25 yards.
After the game, Mixon elected not to speak to reporters but did vent his frustrations on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Pro Bowl runner said he asked the referee about the tackle at the moment before heading to the sidelines.
The answer was not what he expected.
“When I got up, I asked the ref where is the flag, that was a hip tackle. & his reply was, no it wasn’t,” Mixon posted.
Mixon, who signed a three-year extension worth $27 million this offseason, is the bellcow back for Houston. Cam Akers finished with a team-high 32 rushing yards but also coughed up the football at the 1-yard line.
When I got up I asked the ref where is the flag that was a hip tackle. & his reply was no it wasn’t 🤦🏽♂️ https://t.co/A5fWjguzGH
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) September 16, 2024
“I really didn’t notice (the tackle),” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said of the hit. “I saw him kind of just fall down weird. I was like, ‘Man, that didn’t look good.’ So, I definitely am praying for him.”
Right now, Mixon’s status remains in jeopardy entering Week 3’s road test against an undefeated Minnesota Vikings roster.
“I know he’s a tough guy,” Stroud said. “Just take care of himself right now. Hope he’s back on the field soon.”
