HOUSTON (AP) — Joe Mixon’s tenure with the Houston Texans nears its end. A mysterious foot injury sidelined the veteran running back for the entire 2025 season, and NFL.com reports that coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio plan to cut or trade him this offseason.

Mixon turns 30 in July. He missed all of 2025 after the non-football injury, despite his strong production in prior years. From 2021 through 2024, only Derrick Henry outrushed and outscored him among NFL backs, NFL.com’s Matt Okada wrote. Houston craves a reliable ground game, yet Mixon’s absence exposed deeper issues along a struggling offensive line.

Releasing Mixon delivers immediate cap savings. The Texans sit $8 million over the salary cap. That money could bolster the line, which Okada called largely lackluster. Fans won’t be stunned. Mixon arrived from Cincinnati as a proven star, but NFL teams chase youth and cost savings at the position.

Woody Marks steps up as the lead back entering his second year. He rushed for 703 yards in 2025 at 3.6 yards per carry. Solid numbers, but defenses rarely flinched. Marks figures in a committee, analysts say. Caserio eyes bigger upgrades.

The Texans face parallel decisions elsewhere. Cleveland’s Nick Chubb, also nearing 30, seems unlikely to join from free agency as planned. Quarterback C.J. Stroud needs protection and balance. Caserio might chase splashier options like New York Jets star Breece Hall, 24, whose acquisition would demand premium assets and cash. Hall could transform Houston’s offense and Super Bowl odds.

Cap math drives these calls. Veterans like Mixon often pay the price when teams trim payroll. Houston prioritizes the line and youth. Marks gains more carries. Free agency looms large.

Mixon’s exit caps a strange year. He dominated pre-2025, yet one injury flipped the script. Texans officials stayed diplomatic through it all. No public commitments to his return ever surfaced. Now, the path clears.

Offseason moves shape 2026. Caserio juggles finances with precision. Stroud’s growth hinges on run support. Houston rebuilds smartly after playoff pushes. Fans await the next pivot.