Joe Mixon’s NFL comeback has been put on hold.
The Seahawks, who on Monday were set to sign the former Pro Bowl running back, have decided not to after Mixon went through a physical with the team, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday.
He was going to join Seattle’s practice squad after going through a workout. Head coach Mike Macdonald said Monday Mixon was “going through the process” but stopped short of saying he’d definitely be signed.
That the reigning-champion Seahawks chose not to sign the 30-year-old after his physical could be a telling sign about his health.
Mixon, a Pro Bowler for the Texans in 2024 after seven seasons with the Bengals, missed all of last season with a mysterious foot injury, and there was speculation during the summer that his NFL career could be over.
“He has not filed his retirement papers,” KPRC Texans reporter Aaron Wilson said in July. “He has told former teammates from the Bengals that his career is over. I had a source close to Joe tell me recently there’s some hope, but I think it’s probably over.”
Mixon had 1,016 yards rushing, 309 yards receiving and 12 total touchdowns in 14 games during the 2024 season. He also had 194 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the playoffs that season. The 2017 second-round pick had 6,412 yards rushing and 52 total touchdowns during his Bengals tenure.
The Seahawks, who let Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker leave for the Chiefs in free agency, lost rookie Jadarian Price to injured reserve with a chest injury.
Walker’s former running mate, Zach Charbonnet, is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during the team’s divisional-round win over the 49ers last January.
