NFL analyst declares how impactful Joe Mixon’s injury is for CJ Stroud’s chances against Patrick Mahomes

Joe Mixon has quietly sat in the background as much of the conversation this season about offseason running back acquisitions centered around Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. However, for the banged-up Texans, Mixon has been perhaps the cushion that has kept the team in games after losing Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell.

Now, the back is in his own injury trouble, working through an ankle injury that has made him questionable for the upcoming divisional round game against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, per Ian Rapoport via ESPN. Speaking on Friday's edition of "Get Up," NFL analyst and former Ravens player Bart Scott called the development "catastrophic."

Bart Scott: [00:02:04] "Catastrophic. He's the heartbeat. He's the one guy that sets the table. He sets them up in second and short and third and manageable. It was him last week that set the tone and changed the way the game was going with his legs last week," he said. [00:02:16][11.5] Get UP

In the regular season, Mixon rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns, the second-most touchdowns in a single season in his career.

Exploring how Joe Mixon's injury could give Texans sneaky advantage against Chiefs

NFL: AFC Wild Card Round-Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans - Source: Imagn

While the injury itself is not something the Texans had any business hoping for, they now can harness the situation to their advantage. Joe Mixon's injury and questionable availability add an element of mystery at the 11th hour, making the Chiefs' game planning more difficult.

The Chiefs will have little idea of whether Mixon will play. Meaning, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have to draw up two game plans. One plan will be if Mixon is available and one plan will be if he is not. Alternatively, he can go all-in on one of those two game plans, but put simply, he better guess correctly.

This all adds stress to the equation for the Kansas City Chiefs as well, necessitating better communication for the two game plans. In other words, the game between the Texans and Chiefs has already begun.

If Joe Mixon is available, the Chiefs could see a version of the running back in which he rushes for 106 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries like he did against the Chargers.

As impressive as the Chiefs' defense has been at times this year, the Los Angeles Chargers arguably had the more stout unit going into the game, averaging 209.9 passing yards allowed per game to the Chiefs' 218.8 yards. As such, Mixon could potentially post a bigger final stat line if things go the Texans' way and the Chiefs guess wrong about his availability.

The Chiefs also could be coming in cold after enjoying their bye.

Will Joe Mixon play in the Houston Texans' biggest game of the season?

If any of the above quotes are used, credit "Get Up," and H/T Sportskeeda.