HOUSTON – Joe Mixon busted through the line of scrimmage in a hurry after a handoff from quarterback C.J. Stroud, accelerating into the secondary on a long run.
Although the Texans’ Pro Bowl running back missed the majority of training camp with a quadriceps injury before returning to practice last week and hasn’t had any preseason game action, he looks and expects to be ready for the season-opener Sept. 8 on the road against the Indianapolis Colts.
Mixon appears to be prepared for game action soon, but obviously won’t play in the Texans’ preseason finale Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. He will compete against the Rams on Thursday morning in a joint practice session.
“Man, I feel good,” Mixon said Wednesday after practice. “Only thing is getting used to this heat. It’s hard getting used to that. But, other than that, man, getting my legs up under me and able to get that chemistry with the O-line and receivers and obviously C.J., Man I feel great.”
Acquired in an offseason trade from the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick and signed to a three-year, $27 million contract extension, Mixon figures to be a focal point of the Texans’ offense in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s playbook.
Mixon doesn’t typically play in the preseason. He didn’t normally play in the preseason games for the Bengals, and the Texans have followed a similar approach with Mixon since he joined the team and has been working his way back to full strength from his leg injury.
“I’ve been practicing for the last about, what two weeks?” Mixon said. “And even before then, running a lot is just obviously getting into that football shape is a little different, man. So, I’m sure it will be a whole hell of a lot different than, or being in that stadium versus being outside like this in this heat. So, I’m very confident, if we go elsewhere, that wind will be there. So, it’s all good.”
Mixon appears to have gained a comfort zone with the zone-based schemes Slowik employs and is also a strong pass-catching presence out of the backfield.
“I mean, obviously it was a wild process,” Mixon said of his initial practices with the defending AFC South champions. “But ever since then, man, I’ve gotten acclimated to the team, built a lot of relationships and everybody embraced me like a brother since day one. So, I’m grateful for where I’m at and I’m very appreciative for being here and it’s a blessing. So, never take this opportunity for granted and like I said, man, I’m just blessed to be in a position like this and obviously, look forward to working with these guys.”
A former second-round draft pick from Oklahoma, Mixon is signed to a deal that includes $13 million guaranteed with a $10 million payout in the first year of his new contract. Mixon has scored 29 total touchdowns over the past three seasons combined.
“He’s a fun, fun person to coach,” Slowik said.“I understand now why he was as good as he was at Cincinnati. He puts in an immense amount of work. He loves football. He does not stop wanting to learn, wanting to grow, which, again, just fits in with everyone else that we have. And he’s all-in on he’s going to do whatever it takes to win.
“He would love to be used as a passing threat. He would love to be a protector. He would love when he carries the rock. He loves when he’s a decoy. I mean, he just loves all of it. He’s been an absolute joy in every regard to coach. He’s a really fun personality.”
KEENE PLACED ON IR
Texans tight end Dalton Keene was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
Keene tore his anterior cruciate ligament against the New York Giants on Saturday, according to league sources.
The Texans signed former New York Jets starting fullback Nick Bawden following a successful tryout.
MILLS BACK AT IT
Texans quarterback Davis Mills had already earned the backup job before he bruised his ribs against the Pittsburgh Steelers and wasn’t slated to play against the Giants regardless of health.
Mills returned to practice Tuesday and looked sharp, including delivering a deep touchdown pass to wide receiver John Metchie III behind cornerback C.J. Henderson, who has recovered from an ankle injury. Mills also connected with wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson for a long touchdown pass. Hutchinson made an impressive one-handed grab at practice.
Wide receiver Ben Skowronek returned to practice from a minor leg injury.
Several players didn’t practice, including cornerback Jeff Okudah (hip), safety M.J. Stewart (leg), fullback Andrew Beck (calf), linebacker Christian Harris (calf), defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), offensive tackle Charlie Heck (plantar fasciitis, foot), offensive tackle David Sharpe (leg), tight end Teagan Quitoriano (calf), wide receiver Noah Brown (shoulder), defensive end Denico Autry (suspended) and defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. (calf).
Center-guard Kendrick Green injured his right leg, but was able to walk back onto the field, albeit with a limp. Green slammed his helmet to the ground in frustration when he got hurt. Green had a similar situation in Cleveland at a practice, but returned to play against the Steelers two days later.
Rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter intercepted a pass thrown by Stroud, diving for the pick.
Lassiter has earned a starting job.
Rookie safety Calen Bullock, a third-round draft pick from USC, ran with the first-team defense. He’s pushing for playing time behind veteran Eric Murray, who has run with the starters for the majority of camp. Murray has also played well. Bullock forced a fumble in the Hall of Fame game against the Chicago Bears and has displayed a rangy presence. He intercepted nine passes in college.
“Calen has been steady,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s been making plays for us. He’s been consistent throughout practice. He finds a way to get his hands on the ball every day in practice, so I’m excited about his growth and his development as a young safety in our system. I think he has a chance to be one of the better ones that I’ve had a chance to work with.”
‘SITUATIONAL FOOTBALL’
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and Rams coach Sean McVay used to compete against each other twice a year in the NFC West conference.
Now, they’ll collaborate on a joint practice session Thursday morning.
Ryans and McVay have planned out the practice together to get in some work in advance of a Saturday preseason game at NRG Stadium.
“We’re excited to have the Rams come in and work with us,” Ryans said. “It will be a lot of situational football talking with coach McVay. We just want to work situations that probably normally wouldn’t come up, or things that we can’t manufacture ourselves and just get good clean work amongst two really good teams. I’m excited, our guys are excited to work with the Rams.
“I have a ton of respect for coach McVay and what he’s done throughout his career. He’s always had his team ready to go and I’m just excited for our guys just to get a chance to get some different looks offensively and defensively, so we can strain ourselves mentally.”
While fights are commonplace at a joint practice, that’s not what Ryans is looking for. He wants a physical, disciplined practice session.
“The main idea behind a joint practice is you get a chance to play physical football,” Ryans said. “You thud guys up and we’re still not going to the ground. Both teams treat each other like teammates like we would normally practice. No cheap shots or anything like that, but it’s about getting good quality work in. One of the hings I don’t like is guys coming out trying to make it a shoving match. That’s what it’s not about. It’s about getting in good work with different schemes. That’s what it’s all about and we’ll get that work.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans contributor to Sports Talk 790.
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