The Houston Texans’ 2025 season ended not with a bang, but with a whimper in the Foxborough slush. As C.J. Stroud struggled through a four-interception nightmare against the Patriots, the most glaring vacancy wasn't in the secondary or the coaching staff—it was in the backfield. For an entire year, the Texans waited for Joe Mixon to solidify a rushing attack that eventually finished 22nd in the league. Now, as the dust settles on another Divisional Round exit, it’s time to stop waiting.

The "uncertainty" surrounding Mixon’s return isn't just a medical hurdle, but rather it is a roster-building anchor that Nick Caserio needs to cut loose.

When the Texans traded for Mixon and handed him a $27 million extension in 2024, the vision was clear to provide Stroud with a back to take the pressure off the young phenom. It worked for one year. But the 2025 campaign was defined by a "freak" foot injury sustained away from the facility. A situation so shrouded in mystery that even General Manager Nick Caserio recently admitted he lacked "clarity" on when or if Mixon would ever be the same.

In the NFL, the most important ability is availability. Mixon didn't just miss a few games, he missed the entire season, leaving the team to patchwork a running game with a fading Nick Chubb and a promising Woody Marks.

From a cold, calculated front-office perspective, the decision will a tough one. Mixon is set to carry a $10 million cap hit in 2026. By releasing him, the Texans can recoup roughly $8 million in cap space.

In a league where the "running back dead zone" is real and aging veterans are frequently replaced by cheaper, fresher legs, paying $10 million for a 29-year-old coming off a mysterious, year-long foot injury is more than a risk, high key, it's bad business. That $8 million could be the difference-maker in re-signing a key defender or adding a top-tier pass catcher to help Stroud recover from his postseason slump.

The Texans’ offense took a massive step back in 2025. The lack of a consistent ground game allowed defenses to pin their ears back and hunt Stroud, leading to the turnovers that doomed their season.

We saw what happened in the divisional loss. Marks and Chubb combined for a dismal 1.7 yards per carry. While Woody Marks has earned a spot in the rotation for 2026, he isn't the physical, between-the-tackles hammer this system requires to thrive in January weather.

Joe Mixon was a great bridge for the Texans' rebuild, and his 1,000-yard 2024 season shouldn't be forgotten. But the NFL moves fast, and "uncertainty" is a luxury a Super Bowl contender cannot afford.

If the Texans want to turn their three straight Divisional Round appearances into a deep title run, they need a backfield they can count on from Week 1 through February. Holding onto the hope of a Mixon "return to form" feels more like nostalgia than a strategy.