Texans running back Joe Mixon injured his ankle and returned to the game

HOUSTON – Texans star running back Joe Mixon injured his ankle in the third quarter and returned to the game after being examined and the team initially listed his return status as questionable.

Mixon limped under his own power from the field to the blue medical tent and then quickly went to the locker room for further examination.

He was replaced by third-string running back Cam Akers, who will play Sunday night against the Chicago Bears since Dameon Pierce is out of this game with a hamstring strain.

Mixon and his downhill running style left the traditionally strong Indianapolis Colts defense deeply scarred and demoralized, as they had no answer to the Texans’ running game, which outmatched them from every perspective.

Mixon brought both a smash-mouth element to the Texans’ offense and a quick counter threat that nearly broke free on several long runs. What Mixon’s 159-yard rushing performance with one touchdown on 30 carries ultimately means for the Texans’ offense is simple.

Mixon’s relentless presence keeps opposing defenses on their toes. They have to fill the tackle box to keep Mixon in check. At the same time, it opens up play-action fakes that defenses have to respect and allows the offense to operate even more fluidly behind Pro Bowl quarterback CJ Stroud and a receiver corps led by Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell.

Mixon was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week and Fed-Ex Ground NFL Player of the Week after averaging over five yards per carry against the Colts.

Mixon, a former Pro Bowl running back acquired in an offseason trade from the Cincinnati Bengals who has totaled 29 touchdowns over the past three seasons, received a three-year, $27 million contract extension in the offseason.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and Click on “Houston”.