The news on Joe Mixon isn't great.
But as with any football injury update, one man's pain is another man's gain. And in this case, the Houston Texans have an intriguing backup for Mixon: Nick Chubb.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that Mixon "is expected to be out an extended period of time with a frustrating foot injury."
He adds that Mixon "will be reevaluated closer to the season to determine his availability."
Mixon made the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Texans, and for a Houston team looking to put together another winning campaign, this isn't ideal.
It's the kind of news that serves as a reminder why Houston gave Chubb a chance on a free agent contract, though.
Chubb hasn't been his best self in the last few years with Cleveland, but a fresh start may rejuvenate him.
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Based on Chubb's training camp time with C.J. Stroud so far, it looks like he'd be a two-down RB if Mixon misses time, with Dare Ogunbowale available for third downs and passing situations.
Mixon will become a huge question mark in fantasy drafts in the near term, someone hard to take until you've already got two RB slots filled. And even then, it might be best to get Chubb as a handcuff.
Chubb is probably worth a late-round flier even for those without Mixon. If he gets starts early in the season, or if Nixon's "frustrating foot injury" stays frustrating, Chubb could score a bunch of touchdowns in the Texans' strong offense.
The absence of Mixon could slightly hurt Houston's offense as a whole, but we'll have to see whether he truly has a chance to get back for Week 1 or not before really knowing what comes next.
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