Joe Mixon’s status for Sunday’s game has officially been revealed.
According to the Houston Texans‘ public relations staff, Mixon will not travel to Minnesota with the team on Saturday to face the Vikings in Week 3. Initially, Mixon was ruled doubtful with an ankle injury but instead will stay back to rehabilitate.
Running back J.J. Taylor was from the practice squad to the active roster in place of Mixon. Houston also elevated linebacker and special teams standout Zeke Turner to bolster kick coverage in place of Dameon Pierce, who was also ruled out due to a hamstring issue.
Houston #Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) and C/G Jarrett Patterson (calf) will not travel with the team to Minnesota and have been downgraded to out for Week 3 against the Vikings. pic.twitter.com/gOyqeOedSo
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) September 21, 2024
Traded by the Bengals this offseason to Houston, Mixon is expected to be the bell cow runner when healthy. Over his first two weeks, the 2021 Pro Bowl has rushed for 189 yards on 39 carries and a touchdown in two games while averaging 4.5 yards per attempt.
He won AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in Week 1 after rushing for 159 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown against the Colts. In Week 2’s win over the Bears, Mixon finished with 50 total yards.
Houston now turns to Cam Akers to serve as the top rushing option in the battle between the two undefeated rosters. Akers, a former second-round pick out of Florida State, took over for Mixon in the fourth quarter. He rushed for 32 yards on seven carries, but also had a fumble.
As one of the top preseason stars, Akers proved to be a valuable asset for Houston’s ground game in August. Injuries have derailed his promising career. In 2021, he suffered an Achilles tear as a member of the Rams.
After being traded to Minnesota last season, he suffered a second Achilles tear in early November.
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said he remained confident in Akers, given his knowledge of the offensive personnel from his time in Los Angeles and Minnesota.
We have elevated J.J. Taylor and Ezekiel Turner to the active roster from the practice squad. pic.twitter.com/bnzUZmqlNN
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 21, 2024
“He’s been running — ran zone scheme he came from — he did the same thing in Minnesota,” Slowik said Thursday. “He’s really good at reading that, we call it riding the wave, finding the right hole to hit. He always plays under control. When he sees it, he hits it. He finishes physical. And he has really good contact balance and I’d say those are the things that jump out with Cam.”
Houston is looking to go 3-0 for the first time since 2012. Kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is scheduled for noon CT.
