Joe Mixon returned to Texans practice Thursday, a sign that their top running back could be on track to return to game action for the first time in nearly four weeks.
Mixon, who was the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after the season-opener against the Indianapolis Colts, has been out since suffering an ankle injury in week two against the Chicago Bears, when he was on the business end of an illegal hip-drop tackle.
He tried to return last week, participating in Friday's practice, but did not play in Sunday's win against the Buffalo Bills.
The Texans listed Mixon as a limited participant in Thursday's practice. His backup Dameon Pierce has been out since suffering a hamstring injury in week one, but was a full participant in practice for the time Thursday.
Based on this, Pierce is trending toward playing Sunday, while Mixon's status is still in the air. But Houston's top back was not shy about how expressing how badly he wants to be there when speaking with reporters Thursday.
