Texans’ DeMeco Ryans Doesn’t Hold Back On Joe Mixon

The Houston Texans acquired running back Joe Mixon in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this month, and Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans is excited to add him.

Of course, Mixon is 28 years old and has plenty of mileage on him, but Ryans does not seem concerned about Mixon declining in Houston.

“So I’m not thinking about a drop-off,” Ryans said, via DJ Bien-Amie of ESPN. “I’m thinking about the positives and the things that [Mixon has] done in his career. He’s been consistent throughout his entire career — a guy who can move the chains for you, a guy who can open up the passing game with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He just opens up the things that we can do offensively.”

The Texans better hope that Mixon doesn’t see a stark dip in production, as they handed him a three-year, $27 million extension upon trading for him.

Mixon is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he rushed for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging four yards per carry. While his efficiency may seem pedestrian, it has been par for the course for Mixon throughout his NFL career, as four yards per attempt is his lifetime average.

The University of Oklahoma product was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

After a decent rookie year, he Mixon broke out in his sophomore season, racking up 1,168 yards and eight scores while logging a robust 4.9 yards per tote.

He hasn’t come close to matching that level of efficiency since, but Mixon did make his first and only Pro Bowl in 2021 after rattling off 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, posting 4.1 yards per carry.

Mixon will join a budding Texans offense led by second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, who put forth one of the best rookie campaigns ever in 2023.

We’ll see if DeMeco Ryans and Houston’s coaching staff can make good use of Joe Mixon next season.