Texans' Mixon calls out player safety policy: NFL's 'priorities ain't right'

As he continues to work his way back from an ankle injury, Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon criticized the NFL's policy regarding player safety.

"I was the No. 1 leader in rushing. I was stopped because of that weak-ass hip-drop tackle," Mixon said Thursday, according to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime. "I can't do nothing about that. It's frustrating, it is what it is. I want to be out there more than anybody."

Mixon returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant for the first time since taking part in a Friday session ahead of Week 4's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 2021 Pro Bowler sustained the ankle injury when Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards hauled him down with an illegal hip-drop tackle in Week 2. Referees didn't flag Edwards on the play, but the NFL handed him a $16,883 fine.

The Texans halfback took exception to the league fining Edwards for a lesser amount than other players penalized for protecting themselves. The NFL fined Green Bay Packers halfback Josh Jacobs $45,020 for dipping his helmet prior to making contact in Week 3.

"You got guys out here protecting themselves from hits, and they are getting fined $45,000 and $50,000," Mixon said. "And for an illegal hip-drop tackle, they're getting fined $16,000 when it's supposed to be an emphasis, it's supposed to be taken out of the game. So obviously, the priorities ain't right with what's going on."

Mixon was among Houston's key additions ahead of the season. The former Cincinnati Bengals tailback rushed for a league-high 159 yards on 30 carries while adding a touchdown before the injury. Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale, and J.J. Taylor have split carries in Mixon's absence.

While Mixon's return to practice is a positive development, he said he'll decide after Friday's practice whether to play Sunday against the New England Patriots.