The Seattle Seahawks looked into signing Joe Mixon amid a running back crisis with first-round rookie Jadarian Price landing on injured reserve, but the franchise decided against signing the veteran
Joe Mixon was a Pro Bowler in his last healthy season back in 2024
Joe Mixon was a Pro Bowler in his last healthy season back in 2024(Image: Getty Images)
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The Seattle Seahawks have decided not to sign Joe Mixon despite the running back undertaking a physical with the Super Bowl champions.
After placing rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price on the injured reserve with a chest injury, Seattle worked out two-time Pro Bowler Mixon on Monday as the team explored options at the position. The 30-year-old missed the entire 2025 season for the Houston Texans, which saw the AFC South franchise lean on its defense to reach the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.
The lost season came one year after Mixon earned Pro Bowl honors in his first season with the Texans. In 2024, he topped 1,000 yards on the ground but was unable to recover from an undisclosed foot injury suffered early in the spring.
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The mysterious foot injury was described as "freak" by Texans general manager Nick Caserio before the franchise parted ways with Mixon in March. “He didn’t do anything off the field, it wasn’t like he was riding like a snowmobile or anything like that,” Caserio said in January 2026.
“I’d say it was more of a medical condition or situation that we never — it really didn’t improve as much as everybody would hope. ... It was a freak thing, honestly, I’ve never seen it, the condition.”
Having undergone a physical with the Seahawks, the NFC West franchise will not sign Mixon to its practice squad. He will remain a free agent, available should another team pursue his services.
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Joe Mixon became a free agent after the Texans cut ties with the running back
Mixon became a free agent after the Texans cut ties with the running back(Image: Getty Images)
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Mixon's injury history includes prior foot and ankle issues, including a 2020 season-ending foot injury. It was reported that Mixon’s chief struggles over the past year have stemmed from issues with blood flow to his injured foot, and the running back even underwent further surgery recently.
Mixon was effective in his first season with the Texans, rushing for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns. He didn’t play in 2025 and had one year remaining on his three-year, $27 million contract extension, which he signed after joining Houston, following seven years with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks have other options. Without Price, Seattle turned to the duo of Emmanuel Wilson and George Holani in a 30-23 home win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
The Seahawks are expecting the return of Zach Charbonnet, a key red-zone touchdown threat, in a few weeks. The former third-round pick returned to practice this week as he slowly recovers from a January ACL tear.
Price’s injury is still a loss, even if he started the season slowly. Price was drafted to help replicate the explosiveness of reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, who joined the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency.
“By no means is this JD's fault or anything like that,“ Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said of the injury. “This is just what happens in football. Unfortunately, injuries happen. He can't control these things.”
The 3-1 Seahawks take on the 4-0 San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field in a key NFC West showdown on Sunday, Oct. 11.