Joe Mixon, Seahawks Agree to Contract amid Jadarian Price, Zach Charbonnet Injuries

The defending Super Bowl champions woke up Monday to a bruised running‑back room. Rookie Jadarian Price, the team’s 2026 first‑round pick, landed on injured reserve with a chest injury that will sideline him for at least four games, and second‑year Zach Charbonnet remains on the PUP list after a torn ACL sustained in the postseason. Coach Mike Macdonald summed it up: "This is just what happens in football." With the depth chart suddenly thin, Seattle turned to a familiar name – veteran two‑time Pro Bowler Joe Mixon – and inked him to the practice squad, where he will wear No. 25.

Mixon arrives after a year away from the field. He spent seven seasons in Cincinnati, hitting the 1,000‑yard mark four times and earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2021. In 2024, his lone year with the Houston Texans, he rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns, becoming the first player in NFL history to post at least 100 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in six straight road games. A foot injury forced him to miss the entire 2025 season, and the Texans released him in March, leaving him a free agent just as Seattle’s backfield imploded.

Seattle’s decision to stash Mixon on the practice squad, rather than an active roster spot, reflects a measured gamble. Mixon’s road‑game pedigree is particularly relevant: Seattle’s offense leans heavily on a strong passing attack, but its rushing attack—averaging 110.3 yards per game, 13th in the league—has struggled to find a consistent workhorse after Kenneth Walker III departed in free agency. Mixon’s ability to produce against porous pass protection and his history of thriving with minimal offensive line help could give the Seahawks a reliable outlet when the starter rests or goes down.

In the meantime, the Seahawks have leaned on Emanuel Wilson, who posted 81 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries against the Chargers in Week 4, while backup George Holani managed just 18 yards on seven carries. Mixon’s presence adds a safety net for that crucial showdown, but coaches have made clear they do not expect him to dominate the backfield immediately; his role is to steady the depth chart until Price and Charbonnet are back.

The biggest unknowns linger around the timeline for the injured rookies and whether Mixon will be elevated beyond practice‑squad duties. Price’s chest injury could keep him out through early November, and Charbonnet’s ACL recovery timeline remains vague despite an opened practice window. If those setbacks stretch, Seattle may look to Mixon for more than occasional snaps, potentially reshaping the run game as the season progresses.