Well, it looks like Joe Mixon won't be returning to the NFL after all.
After undergoing a team physical on Tuesday morning, the Seattle Seahawks have elected not to sign the former Houston Texans Pro Bowl running back to their practice squad.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the team only planned to sign Mixon if it was contingent on passing the team's physical. Mixon did not play at all in 2025 due to a foot injury.
Mixon, 30, was released in March by the Texans after spending the entire season on their non-football injury list. Houston traded for David Montgomery from the Detriot Lions to replace Mixon following a year removed from his second Pro Bowl season.
As it turns out, the Seahawks decided not to sign veteran running back Joe Mixon to their
practice squad after he underwent a physical for the team, per league source. Mixon will remain a free agent. pic.twitter.com/0blouVwvPU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 6, 2026
In his lone year of playing for the franchise, Mixon rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl honors. He also becme the first Texans running back since Carlos Hyde in 2019 to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.
All last season, both Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio were highly secretive about Mixon's condition, often saying "he's progressing" or providing "no update at the time" comments about the starting running back.
Because of his departure, the run game was depleted. Houston averaged less than four yards per carry behind a combination of Woody Marks and Nick Chubb, with the rookie out of USC eventually becoming the focal point of the offensive ground game.
Over the weekend, Mixon posted a video of a workout that ended with him stating, "I’m back, baby!” Shortly after, the Seahawks invited him for a workout.
😤⌛️@ononesock pic.twitter.com/seJczjDUuz
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) October 3, 2026
Seattle has been missing its top two running backs for most of the past two weeks. First-round pick Jadarian Price will miss at least three games after being placed on injured reserve with a chest injury before Week 4. Meanwhile, Zach Charbonnet, who remains on the physically unable to perform list, has been trying to return from his ACL tear suffered in last season's postseason run.
As for the Texans, while moving off Mixon felt like the right move, their ground game woes continue into 2026. Entering Sunday's matchup on the road, Houston ranks 30th in rushing yards (79.0 yards per game) and 29th in yards per attempt (3.5).
The Texans have four total rushing touchdowns, two from each lead back.
Kickoff in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans is scheduled for Noon on CBS.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Former Texans Pro Bowl RB Joe Mixon’s weird injury saga continues after failed signing
