HOUSTON – Texans running back Joe Mixon participated in practice, a light and short workout Tuesday, after sustaining a minor ankle injury during an unflagged hip-drop tackle Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
It’s a positive sign that Mixon should be fine for Saturday’s game against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Mixon was able to finish the game, but was favoring the ankle during and after the 20-12 victory as he rushed for just 23 yards on 12 carries and caught five passes for 33 yards to lead the offense in catches and yards.
“Yeah, Joe came out fine,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “He missed some time there, but he’ll be fine.”
The Texans believe that Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks tackled Mixon illegally, a stance backed by NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore.
Earlier this season, the Texans' veteran running back expressed his frustration about the injury he suffered on Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards’ illegal hip-drop tackle that didn’t draw a penalty. Edwards was fined $16,883 for a first offense under a new NFL rule outlawing a tackling technique that has caused a high frequency of injuries.
“The play with Joe on the sideline, we see that as a hip-drop tackle that didn’t get flagged there, but see it as a hip-drop tackle,” Ryans said. “Unfortunate. Again, it’s something we’re trying to clean up and get out of the game from a defensive perspective. Guys just have to do a better job of getting their bodies in front and wrapping up and running your feet.”
When Mixon got hurt in the second game of the season, he was coming off a 159-yard, one-touchdown performance in a season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts that earned him AFC Player of the Week honors, the injury sidelined the NFL rushing leader at the time.
“I was the No. 1 leader in rushing, obviously I was stopped because of that weak-ass hip-drop tackle,” Mixon said after returning from the injury. “I want to be out there. I can’t do nothing about that. It’s frustrating. It is what it is. I want to be out there more than anybody.”
“You got guys out here protecting themselves from hits and they getting fined $45,000 and $50,000. And for an illegal hip drop tackle they’re getting fined $16,000 when it’s supposed to be an emphasis, it’s supposed to be taken out of the game. So, obviously, the priorities ain’t right with what’s going on. Obviously, it is frustrating to see. But it is what it is. If we’re going to talk about playing the game the right way, we also got to have integrity for the game when it comes to it. That’s how I feel about it.
“The defender landed on his ankle,” Ryans said after the Bears game. “So, tough spot to be in. We all want to coach it better on defenders. That is why you want to put your body in front and tackle guys in front and not reaching from behind, and the defender is in a bad spot there. He’s trying to get Joe down and the only way when you’re in a bad spot, the only way, is to unweight yourself and you put your weight off on his leg. So, unfortunate that that happened to Joe.”
Mixon, who finished the Chicago game with nine carries for 25 yards, has been outspoken about the hip-drop tackle enforcement.
“The NFL and NFLPA made it a rule and an emphasis for a reason,” Mixon wrote on social media after the game. “Time to put your money where your mouth is. When I got up, I asked the ref where is the flag that was a hip tackle. & his reply was no it wasn’t.”
When the NFL Players Association posted a statement on social media about the locker room media policy, Mixon wrote: “Player safety is what matters & should be the focus not media access.”
NOTES: Texans veteran defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi, who injured his ankle Sunday and was ruled out of the game, didn’t practice Tuesday during the portion open to reporters. ... Tight end Dalton Schultz, who got an upper body injury checked out in the blue medical tent and finished the game Sunday, participated Tuesday.
Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images