You've probably been refreshing your fantasy feeds or checking the box scores wondering where Joe Mixon went. Honestly, it’s been a weird year for the Texans' backfield. If you’re looking for the hard numbers on Joe Mixon rushing yards last game, you have to look back to the AFC Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs on January 18, 2025.
In that high-stakes matchup, Mixon ground out 88 rushing yards on 18 carries.
He also found the end zone for a touchdown, averaging a solid 4.9 yards per carry. It wasn't a "blow the roof off" kind of performance like his 100-yard outing against the Chargers the week prior, but it was exactly the kind of gritty, veteran work Houston expected when they brought him in.
Then, everything went quiet.
The 2025 Ghost Act
If you’re confused because you haven't seen him on the field lately, you aren't alone. As we sit here in January 2026, the reality is that Joe Mixon didn't record a single rushing yard during the entire 2025 regular season. Not one.
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Basically, a lingering foot injury—some sources like SIC Score pointed toward Lisfranc concerns or chronic ankle issues dating back to a hip-drop tackle in 2024—kept him on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list for the duration of the 2025 campaign. It’s been a massive blow for Houston, especially considering he had just come off a 1,000-yard season in 2024.
Joe Mixon Rushing Yards Last Game and Recent Trends
To really understand the impact, you have to look at the trajectory before the injury bug bit. Mixon was the engine of the Texans' offense during their 2024 playoff push.
- AFC Wild Card vs. Chargers (Jan 11, 2025): 25 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD.
- AFC Divisional at Chiefs (Jan 18, 2025): 18 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD.
- Regular Season Finale at Titans (Jan 5, 2025): 5 carries, 23 yards.
The drop-off in the season finale was mostly about rest and preservation. But that Divisional game in Kansas City? That was the last time we saw the vintage Mixon—patient behind the line, explosive through the gap, and reliable in the red zone.
Since then, the Texans have had to pivot. While Mixon was sidelined all through 2025, rookie Woody Marks stepped up. In the most recent Wild Card win against the Steelers (January 12, 2026), Marks put up 112 yards. Seeing a rookie eclipse 100 yards in a playoff game makes Mixon's absence feel a little less painful for Texans fans, but it certainly complicates Mixon's future with the team as he nears age 30.
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Why the 88-Yard Game Still Matters
A lot of people overlook those 88 yards because the Texans ultimately fell short in that playoff run. However, it proved Mixon could still handle a heavy workload against a championship-caliber defense. He wasn't just "stat-padding" against bad teams. He was doing it against Spagnuolo’s defense in the freezing KC weather.
Nuance matters here. Some critics argued that Mixon was losing his burst, citing his 4.1 career average. But in that final game, his 4.9 YPC showed he still had the vision to exploit narrow lanes.
The injury news in August 2025 was a gut punch. Reports from Ian Rapoport and others confirmed the foot issue was serious enough to jeopardize the whole year. We’ve seen this before with running backs—once the feet go, the career often follows.
What Most People Get Wrong About Mixon's Stats
People love to compare Mixon to his Cincinnati days. Yeah, he had a legendary five-touchdown game against Carolina back in 2022, but the "Houston Mixon" was a different animal. He became a more efficient North-South runner.
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The biggest misconception? That he was "washed" before the injury.
In 2024, he played 14 games and still broke the 1,000-yard mark. He was actually one of only ten active players with over 5,000 career rushing yards at the time. He wasn't slowing down; his body just gave out.
Moving Forward: What to Watch
If you're tracking Mixon for a potential 2026 comeback, keep your eyes on the Texans' transactions over the next few weeks. He's been a vocal supporter on social media, celebrateing the Wild Card win over the Steelers, but the team's cap situation and the emergence of Woody Marks make his $7 million+ cap hit a target for relocation or release.
Actionable Insights for Following Mixon's Return:
- Monitor the Medicals: Watch for reports specifically mentioning "Lisfranc recovery" or "surgical intervention" during the 2026 offseason. If he hasn't had surgery by March, the "lingering" label remains a red flag.
- The Age Factor: Mixon turns 30 this offseason. Statistically, RB production falls off a cliff here. Any 2026 projection should be capped at a committee-role volume.
- Check the Depth Chart: If Houston drafts another back in the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s a clear signal that Mixon’s time as a bell-cow is officially over.
Whether he suits up in Houston or elsewhere, those 88 yards in Kansas City remain the final chapter of his "prime" for now.