Who Should I Start? Joe Mixon or Dylan Sampson

Saturday, July 26, 1:50 PM

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (foot), who started training camp on the Non-Football Injury list, is expected to be out for an extended period of time due to a frustrating foot injury, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Mixon will be re-evaluated closer to the regular season to determine his availability, but it sounds as though last year's 1,000-yard rusher isn't a lock to be ready for Week 1 in early September. Dameon Pierce (undisclosed) is also on the PUP list, so Houston's backfield is pretty thin early in training camp. As things currently stand, Nick Chubb, who suffered a gruesome leg injury in 2023, is atop the depth chart, with rookie Woody Marks also set for a substantial role if both Mixon and Pierce aren't ready for the season opener. Mixon can do it all when healthy, but his health has now become an issue, and the Texans' shaky offensive line isn't a good combination.

Sunday, August 3, 2:29 PM

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Jerome Sampson is "essentially playing the 1-B role" next to veteran Jerome Ford, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. A fourth-round rookie out of Tennessee, Sampson rushed for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns in 13 games last season for the Volunteers. With second-round running back Quinshon Judkins still unsigned by the team due to a July arrest, Sampson appears to be in line for a significant role as a rookie. Ford is entering his fourth season in Cleveland, but he's never truly earned a workhorse role throughout a full season. The backfield mix for the Browns will remain a bit muddled until Judkins' legal situation gets ironed out, but it sounds like Ford and Sampson will share the workload relatively evenly while Judkins is out.