Hold onto your hats, 12s, because that big Joe Mixon signing we all heard about? Yeah, it’s officially not happening. After reports circulated that the Seattle Seahawks were set to ink the veteran running back to a free-agent deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped a plot twist: the Hawks are backing out. This isn’t just a minor snag, folks. This is a direct hit to finding a solution for our running back woes, and it all comes down to a physical.
The Seahawks’ Running Back Hole Just Got Deeper
Let’s be real, the Seahawks have been staring down a running back problem. Kenneth Walker III took his talents to the Kansas City Chiefs and is absolutely thriving, rubbing a little salt in the wound for us. Meanwhile, Zach Charbonnet is still coming off a serious injury and isn’t back in the fold yet. Jadarian Price landed on injured reserve, leaving us with Emmanuel Wilson and George Holani as our active running backs. Look, no disrespect to those guys, but the source explicitly says they “don’t really move the needle.” That’s a huge issue, especially early in the season, and it’s why the initial Mixon report had us all buzzing with a glimmer of hope. Head Coach Mike Macdonald and Offensive Coordinator Brian Fleury need options, and fast.
The Physical That Blew Up the Deal
So, why the sudden about-face on Mixon? Simple: the physical. “As it turns out, the Seahawks decided not to sign veteran running back Joe Mixon to their practice squad after he underwent a physical for the team, per league sources,” Schefter reported. Mixon, a former Cincinnati Bengals RB, missed all of 2025 due to an undisclosed injury, and the Houston Texans certainly felt his absence. While his reported deal with the Hawks seemed like a sign that he was ready to return to the NFL, whatever the team’s medical staff saw during that physical, they did *not* like it. They’ve decided to back out of the free-agent deal, leaving Mixon to remain a free agent. This is a brutal blow for Mixon, as a failed physical isn’t a good sign for him finding any landing spot this season. It’s similar to how the Baltimore Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade this past offseason; when the medicals aren’t right, teams pull the plug.
The Emerald City needs a running game to support Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp. Losing out on a proven back like Mixon due to health concerns means Mike Macdonald’s squad is still very much in the market for help. The fact that the physical didn’t go well means we can’t just wish this problem away. The Seahawks are still on the lookout for more running back help, and this early season scramble is going to define a big chunk of how this season unfolds for our Hawks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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