Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game vs. the Vikings. He didn't practice all week and isn't a lock to be back for Week 4. With RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring) also out, Houston elevated RB J.J. Taylor from the practice squad. RB Cam Akers figures to operate as the lead back against Minnesota, but we're projecting RB Dare Ogunbowale to play plenty on passing downs. See where Akers lands in the Week 3 RB Rankings.
Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game vs. the Vikings after missing practice all week. RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring) has been ruled out. That leaves RB Cam Akers as Houston's lead back. He had an impressive preseason coming off his second Achilles tear, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and ranking ninth among 108 qualifying RBs in Pro Football Focus' rushing grades. Akers should dominate Texans carries this weekend, although we expect him to lose passing-down snaps to RB Dare Ogunbowale.
Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) remained sidelined on Thursday. He's in serious danger of missing this weekend's game vs. the Vikings. RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring) also missed practice again on Thursday. Grab RB Cam Akers if he's available in your league. He'll be a top-30 RB play if Mixon and Pierce are out.
Texans RBs Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. Mixon's injury reportedly isn't serious, but he shouldn't be considered a lock to play vs. the Vikings this weekend. "We’ll take it day-by-day with Joe and his injury and see where he ends up at the week," HC Demeco Ryan said. "Still holding out hope that he can make it.” If Mixon and Pierce both miss Sunday's game, RB Cam Akers would slide in as Houston's early-down back, with RB Dare Ogunbowale playing some passing downs.
Texans insider Aaron Wilson reports that RB Joe Mixon's ankle injury is "not considered long term or serious." Mixon briefly returned to Sunday night's game vs. the Bears after spraining the ankle but eventually gave way again to RB Cam Akers. It sounds like Mixon won't miss a ton of time, but his status for Week 3's meeting with the Vikings is uncertain. Wilson also reports that RB Dameon Pierce is "making fast progress" from his hamstring injury. If neither guy is available this weekend, Akers would be in for a significant workload. Houston also has RB Dare Ogunbowale on the active roster, but he's a passing-down specialist.
Texans RB Joe Mixon's right ankle got rolled up on in the third quarter of Sunday night's game vs. the Bears. He hobbled off the field and headed into the medical tent. We'll update Mixon's status when we know more. RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is inactive tonight, leaving the backfield to Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale.
Update: Mixon is officially questionable to return.
Update: Mixon returned later in the third quarter.
Texans RB Dameon Pierce (ankle) is inactive for tonight’s game vs. the Bears. RBs Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale are active behind workhorse Joe Mixon.
Texans RB Dameon Pierce (ankle) is listed as questionable for this Sunday night’s game vs. the Bears. He was added to the injury report on Thursday and then did not practice on Friday, so he’s seemingly on the wrong side of questionable. Pierce’s absence would give Cam Akers a crack at No. 2 RB duties. He’s obviously not a fantasy option behind a healthy Joe Mixon. But we’ll see if Akers can do enough on Sunday night to potentially move past Pierce on the depth chart.
Texans RB Cam Akers is a healthy scratch for today's opener vs. the Colts. Dameon Pierce will open the season as the No. 2 RB, despite being handily outplayed by Akers this preseason. We'd still expect both guys to be involved if RB Joe Mixon misses time this year.
The Texans on Sunday signed RB Cam Akers.
Texans OC Bobby Slowik gushed about RB Joe Mixon in Saturday's press conference. "He's a fun, fun person to coach," Slowik said with a big smile. "From Day one, showed up and absolutely worked his tail off. I mean you could see right away in Phase two, and in OTAs, like I understand now why he was as good as he was in Cincinnati. He puts in an immense amount of work. He loves football. He does not stop wanting to learn, wanting to grow. ... Workhorse. He’s an absolute workhorse, in every regard. Not just as a ball carrier. He embraces protections. He embraces the other things he can do outside of carrying the ball, as an eligible [receiver], as a decoy."
The Vikings are expected to re-sign RB Cam Akers, according to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press. That depends, of course, on Akers passing a physical. He joined Minnesota last September but went down for the season in Week 9 with a torn left Achilles' tendon. Over his six games with the team, Akers reached 29% snap shares four times, with a high of 39% in Week 7. He worked ahead of Ty Chandler over that span but behind then-starter Alexander Mattison.
The Vikings fear a torn Achilles for RB Cam Akers, HC Kevin O'Connell said after Sunday's win over the Falcons. This would be Akers' left Achilles. He tore his right Achilles in July 2021, eventually making it back in January 2022. This latest injury would end Akers' 2023 campaign, leaving Minnesota's backfield to Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler. We should get confirmation on the injury on Monday.
Update: The Monday MRi confirmed the injury. Unfortunately, this makes Akers droppable across fantasy formats, including dynasty.
Vikings RB Cam Akers suffered an ankle injury in the second half of Sunday's game vs. the Falcons and will not return. That leaves the backfield to Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler. We'll update Akers' status when we know more.
A Monday MRI confirmed that Vikings QB Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles in the Week 8 win over the Packers, NFL Network reports. Cousins will miss the rest of the 2023 season. His contract is set to void in March, and Cousins will turn 36 in August, leaving his football future very uncertain. The Vikings, meanwhile, are left with QBs Jaren Hall and Sean Mannion for now. QB Nick Mullens, who at least has 655 NFL pass attempts under his belt, is eligible to come off IR next week. We'll see if Minnesota makes a move for a free-agent QB or swings a trade before tomorrow's trade deadline. Regardless, Cousins' absence is bad news for all of the team's skill-position players.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins is feared to have torn his Achilles in Sunday's win over the Packers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's typically easy for doctors to diagnose a torn Achilles without any imaging. We should get confirmation tomorrow, but Cousins' 2023 season is very likely over. His absence would leave Minnesota with QBs Jaren Hall and Sean Mannion. QB Nick Mullens is currently on IR with a back injury but is eligible to return. Regardless, Cousins' injury is horrible news for Minnesota's skill-position players.
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison worked behind RB Cam Akers early in Sunday's win over the Packers. Akers logged 8 first-half carries to Mattison's 4, as well as the only RB target before halftime. Mattison dominated second-half work, however, taking 12 rushes to just one for Akers. Neither guy did much with their touches. Mattison finished just 16-31 rushing and caught his lone target for a mere 2 yards. Akers scored the lone rushing TD but averaged just 2.1 yards per carry across his 9 attempts. He also didn't see a second-half target. It's best to avoid this backfield in fantasy as much as you can.
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