Joe Mixon’s Seahawks Deal Falls Through After Physical, Veteran Remains a Free Agent

Joe Mixon appeared to have found his way back onto an NFL roster. Less than a day later, that comeback was put on hold.

The Seattle Seahawks have decided not to sign Mixon to their practice squad after the veteran running back underwent a physical with the team, according to multiple reports Tuesday. Mixon will instead remain a free agent as he continues searching for an opportunity to return to the league. (NFL)

Seattle had brought Mixon in for a workout Monday while looking for additional depth in an injury-depleted backfield. Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed the team was going through the process of adding Mixon, and reports initially indicated the 30-year-old would join Seattle’s practice squad once he completed his medical examination. (NFL)

That physical ultimately changed the direction of the move.

The Seahawks elected not to finalize the signing after Mixon underwent the examination. The specific medical issue that caused Seattle to move on has not been publicly disclosed, making it unclear whether the decision was directly connected to the foot problem that cost Mixon the entire 2025 season. (Reuters)

Still, Mixon’s recent injury history will remain a major part of the conversation surrounding his future.

Mixon has not appeared in an NFL game since the 2024 season with the Houston Texans. He missed all of 2025 because of a foot injury and was eventually released by Houston in March, sending the former Pro Bowler onto the free-agent market. (NFL)

Before the extended absence, Mixon showed he could still be a productive NFL running back. In 14 games for Houston in 2024, he rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 309 receiving yards and another score. The performance earned him the second Pro Bowl selection of his career. (NFL)

His résumé stretches well beyond that one season. Originally selected by Cincinnati in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Mixon spent seven seasons with the Bengals before joining Houston. He has accumulated 7,428 rushing yards, 2,448 receiving yards and 74 total touchdowns during his NFL career. (Reuters)

Seattle represented an intriguing landing spot because the Seahawks currently need help at running back. Rookie Jadarian Price was recently placed on injured reserve with a chest injury, while Zach Charbonnet continues working his way back from the ACL injury he suffered last postseason. (NFL)

Instead of adding Mixon, Seattle has continued looking elsewhere for depth, including the addition of rookie running back Robert Henry Jr. from Washington’s practice squad. (RealGM Football)

For Mixon, the bigger question now becomes what comes next.

At 30 years old and nearly two years removed from his last NFL appearance, Mixon already faced questions about how much of his previous form he could regain. A team deciding against signing him following a physical could make finding his next opportunity more difficult, particularly with clubs likely to closely examine the medical situation that kept him out throughout 2025.

There is little question about what Mixon accomplished the last time he was healthy. A 1,000-yard season and Pro Bowl appearance in 2024 showed that he was still capable of producing at a high level.

The question is whether another team will be comfortable giving him the opportunity to prove he can do it again.

For now, what briefly appeared to be Mixon’s return to the NFL has been delayed, and the veteran running back remains on the open market.