New NFL Rumors on Joe Mixon's Future After Missing Entire 2025 Season With Foot Injury

Former Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon has told former teammates his NFL career is over, KPRC-2 Houston's Aaron Wilson reported on a Tuesday livestream.

Mixon last played in 2024 for the Texans. He missed the entire 2025 season due to a foot injury that necessitated surgery, then was released by the Texans in March.

"I had a source close to Joe tell me recently there's some hope [of a return]," Wilson said around the 40:20 mark of the livestream. "Some hope, but I think it's probably over."

Wilson continued around the 1:02:30 mark: "He has told some friends, players for the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played before, that he is not going to play football anymore."

Wilson said Mixon has dealt with issues with blood flow to his injured foot, on which he "recently" underwent another surgery.

Mixon arrived in Houston via trade ahead of the 2024 season after recording his fourth career 1,000 rushing-yard season for the Bengals.

He followed that up by earning his second Pro Bowl nod while rushing for 1,016 yards with 11 touchdowns on 245 carries.

Mixon's injury first impacted him early in the 2025 offseason, when he missed offseason workouts with the Texans due to the issue.

He missed training camp and was ultimately placed on the reserve/non-football injury list in late August 2025, which set him on track to miss at least the first four games of the 2025 regular season.

After the Texans repeatedly pushed back estimates as to when Mixon would be able to return, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported in late November the running back was expected to miss the entire season.

Mixon requested his release from the Texans before it was granted earlier this offseason, per ESPN's Adam Schefter (h/t ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime).

Wilson reported on his livestream that Mixon's overall health is better even if the future of his NFL career remains in doubt.

For now he will remain an unrestricted free agent heading into what would be his age-30 season.

Originally selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2017 draft, Mixon earned his first Pro Bowl nod and went to Super Bowl LVI with Cincinnati during the 2021 season. He has recorded a total of 7,428 rushing yards over 111 games and eight NFL campaigns.