The Seattle Seahawks have added former Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon, a depth move that reflects the thin margin in their backfield while Zach Charbonnet (knee) remains on the physically unable to perform list.
Locked On Seahawks host Dan Viens said Mixon worked out for the club and could initially land on the practice squad as Seattle evaluates both his health and his fit in the offense. Viens characterized the move as a low-cost gamble rather than an immediate answer, arguing that Mixon may never need to be elevated if the current group stays available.
Mixon became a free agent after the Texans released him following a 2025 season lost to a foot injury. His resume still brings substantial experience: He spent seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before joining Houston in 2024, rushing for more than 7,400 yards in his career.
Seattle’s active depth chart opened with rookie Jadarian Price ahead of Emanuel Wilson and George Holani at running back. Price is now on injured reserve, and Viens said that Wilson’s reported availability concerns and Holani’s uneven third-down work help explain why the Seahawks wanted another option, even with Mixon’s uncertain timeline.
Charbonnet has begun practicing after opening the season on PUP following the ACL injury he suffered late last season. His eventual return could limit Mixon’s path to a role, but it also leaves Seattle with an experienced contingency plan if another back misses time before Charbonnet is activated.
The immediate question is whether the Seahawks make a corresponding 53-man roster move or use the practice squad to buy Mixon time. Viens’ central point was more measured: Seattle is not counting on the 30-year-old to rescue its rushing attack, but it no longer has to rely solely on an unsettled group without Price.
Seattle will next gauge Mixon’s conditioning in practice while monitoring Charbonnet’s workload and the health of the backs already on its depth chart.
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