Seahawks pass on Joe Mixon after physical, sign rookie RB Robert Henry Jr. instead

The Seattle Seahawks dropped plans on Tuesday, Oct. 6, to add Joe Mixon, 30, to the practice squad once the veteran back had gone through a physical, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported and NFL.com confirmed. Instead, Seattle pulled undrafted rookie Robert Henry Jr. from Washington's practice squad onto its 53-man roster and put Dontae McMillan on its own practice squad. The moves come with first-round pick Jadarian Price on injured reserve.

Why did the Seahawks look at Joe Mixon?

Seattle is short at running back. Price, the team's top back, was placed on injured reserve on Saturday with a chest injury and will miss at least three more games, according to ESPN. General manager John Schneider said on the team's pregame radio show Sunday that the club does not see it as a season-ending injury. Jacardia Wright, the only running back on the practice squad, has a foot injury and went to practice squad injured reserve on Tuesday.

Mixon worked out for the team on Monday morning. Later that day, coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Mixon was in the middle of the process and said plainly that Seattle needed running backs. ESPN had reported on Monday that the signing depended on Mixon passing a physical. By Tuesday the team had moved on.

Where does Joe Mixon's career stand?

Mixon has not played a game since 2024. He spent all of 2025 on the Houston Texans' non-football injury list because of a foot problem, and Houston released him in March. His last full season was productive, according to NFL.com:

Cincinnati drafted him in the second round in 2017. Over his career he has run for 7,428 yards, added 2,448 yards as a receiver and scored 74 touchdowns in all.

Who is Robert Henry Jr.?

Henry, who was not drafted out of UTSA, was with Washington through camp and three preseason games, gaining 105 yards with one touchdown on 26 carries, according to Seahawks.com. He has not appeared in an NFL regular-season game. In his final college season in 2025 he rushed for 1,045 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Seattle waived safety AJ Finley to open the roster spot.

McMillan grew up in Seattle, went undrafted out of Eastern Michigan this year and had been with the Baltimore Ravens.

Seattle's running back depth chart for Week 5

Emanuel Wilson is the lead back after a strong game in Sunday's 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers: 81 rushing yards on 21 carries, three catches for 39 yards, one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown, per ESPN. George Holani handles third downs and Velus Jones Jr. is the third option. Zach Charbonnet, recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in last season's playoffs, began practicing last week, but Macdonald ruled him out for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.