Having Mixon back would have benefitted the Texans against one of the league’s worst run defenses. Buffalo enters NRG Stadium allowing a league-leading 5.7 yards per run. In Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills allowed 271 rushing yards and 8.0 yards per run, 199 of which came from Derrick Henry.

The Houston Texans ' ground game has slowed to a crawl since it's dominant Week 1 performance against Chicago. Houston will likely have to survive without its lead running back again in a highly anticipated Week 5 matchup.

He suffered the injury in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears and has missed both of the Texans' games since. Head coach DeMeco Ryans has said that Mixon is "day-to-day" but not practicing on Thursday typically is a bad sign for his availability come Sunday.