How good is the ground game for the Houston Texans?

Better yet, how good is the ground and pound attack for the Texans without Joe Mixon?

Pro Football Focus wrote an article this offseason detailing the top running back units for the upcoming season. By no surprise, the Baltimore Ravens, headlined by All-Pro Derrrick Henry, the Detroit Lions, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, and the Atlanta Falcons, brought forward by Bijan Robinson, were ranked as the top three units. The Ravens, led by Derrick Henry, possess the league’s most lethal backfield when you add in the threat of Lamar Jackson.

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As for the Texans, PFF is high enough on the room general with a healthy Mixon. Sadly, Houston might not have back Mixon until next offseason, depending on his injury.

PFF writer Dalton Wasserman ranked the No. 19 unit entering the year. That’s about middle of the pack, but that also is with the intent of having a healthy version of Mixon. Outside of him, PFF isn’t that fond of where the room is in general.

“Veteran Joe Mixon leads the Texans’ backfield into 2025 after logging the fifth 1,000-yard rushing season of his career. His 76.6 PFF overall grade ranked 16th among qualified running backs last season. Beyond Mixon, there are question marks,” Wasserman wrote.

“Houston recently signed Nick Chubb, but he lacked explosiveness last season after returning from a devastating knee injury. Dameon Pierce seems to have fallen out of favor with the team, and fourth-round rookie Woody Marks may need some time before taking on a heavy role.”

Mixon, who inked a three-year extension after being traded to Houston last offseason, hasn’t practiced throughout the summer and is expected to miss at least the first four games with a lower-body injury. That’s just to start, but the Texans could be without him longer depending on the severity of the injury. The Texans will open the season on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

That will be the first time Texans fans will see their offense without Mixon in the huddle. Perhaps after the game, Houston could rank lower because of the rushing attack.

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This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Where does Texans’ RB room rank entering 2025? PFF weighs in