The Houston Texans have struggled with finding a consistent running back in recent years, and no one has managed to reach 1,000 rushing yards. This changed with their offseason trade for Joe Mixon, and after just one game, it seems he might be the solution they needed.
Mixon had a career-high 30 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown, helping the Texans secure a 29-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. His 159 rushing yards are the sixth-best in Texans history, and he is only the third player to rush for over 100 yards in his debut for the team, the first since 2016.
“Joe really came through for us,” said coach DeMeco Ryans. “We needed him to run the ball, and he did exactly that. Despite the Colts knowing we were going to run, he still made the plays. It was great to see him perform like that in his first game after showing promise in training camp.”
Mixon scored a 3-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push Houston’s lead to 22-13.
Even when the Colts narrowed the gap late in the game, Mixon made a crucial 9-yard run to secure a first down and help the Texans run out the clock.
“We were just being physical out there,” Mixon said. “We ran hard and made the most of every opportunity.”
Mixon’s performance, which also included 19 yards receiving, was impressive, especially since he had only one 100-yard rushing game last season.
The Texans had another standout debut on Sunday with receiver Stefon Diggs, who joined the team from Buffalo and scored two touchdowns against the Colts.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud noted that adding Mixon and Diggs to an already strong offense gave the team a significant boost. He also mentioned that both players were actively encouraging their teammates on the sideline to keep improving.
