USA TODAY Sports
Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kole Noble | Last updated 9/20/24
The Houston Texans run game has been a pleasant surprise through two games to open the 2024 season after all the talk was about the receiving core all summer.
The bulk of the success has come from Joe Mixon , whom the team traded for from the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year. Mixon currently ranks seventh in the league with 184 rushing yards, but the team might have to find a way to replace his production with someone else on Sunday.
Following Friday's practice, the Texans' top back has been listed as doubtful for their upcoming matchup against the Minnesota Vikings with an ankle injury. Mixon suffered the injury in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears after being hip-drop tackled by linebacker T.J. Edwards. The now-illegal tackling method was not penalized during the game, leading Mixon to call out the league earlier this week.
With Mixon potentially out of the lineup, the team will have to rely on the next man up to carry the load. That man will likely be another Texans' new-comer in Cam Akers, considering backup Dameon Pierce has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Not many teams have the luxury of having a third-string running back who's a fifth-year veteran with over 1,600 yards rushing in his career to call upon. Akers will now get a big opportunity to show up for his new team and build on an impressive preseason where he led the team with 112 rushing yards.
"I think the big thing when you get guys who have played in the NFL a while and are experienced vets is they already know what it takes when they get in and the lights are on," Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said about Akers on Thursday. "You can count and rely on guys like that to get in and be ready to roll."
Beyond the updates on the two running backs, here's what the rest of the team's injury report looked like following the final day of practice this week:
The only other players with injury designations going into the weekend are center Jarrett Patterson (calf), center Juice Scruggs (groin), and safety M.J. Stewart (knee). All three players were listed as questionable.
The status of both Scruggs and Patterson is obviously concerning when it comes to who will be healthy enough to start on Sunday. Scruggs missed the Texans Week 2 win with Patterson filling in the spot during the game.
As for their opponent, the Vikings have already ruled out wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) and rookie pass rusher Dallas Turner (knee) . Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, will however, be suiting up on Sunday.
