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Video: Joe Mixon, Josh Johnson Involved in Altercation Before Ravens-Texans Game

Doric SamDecember 25, 2024

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 15: Joe Mixon #28 of the Houston Texans celebrates after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at NRG Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Christmas Day matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans produced some fireworks before the game even began.

According to ESPN's Jamison Hensley, Texans running back Joe Mixon and Ravens backup quarterback Josh Johnson exchanged words at midfield during pregame warmups and had to be separated.

Steve Wyche offered a look at video of the spat during Netflix's broadcast:

Steve Wyche @wyche89

It's Christmas with some pregame fireworks between the Ravens and Houston <a href="https://twitter.com/netflix?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@netflix</a> <a href="https://t.co/QtVk5Lsmz5">pic.twitter.com/QtVk5Lsmz5</a>

It's not clear what could've caused the issue between Johnson and Mixon. Johnson is a journeyman who has been a member of an NFL-record 14 different teams, but he didn't overlap with Mixon after the speedster entered the league in 2017 as a second-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson played for the Bengals in 2013 and was on their practice squad in 2015.

Mixon is in his first year with the Texans after being acquired from the Bengals in an offseason trade. In 12 games this season, he's produced 967 yards and 11 touchdowns on 231 carries while also adding 33 catches for 291 yards and another score.

Houston will be depending on Mixon more than ever, as its already-depleted receiving corps took another hit when wideout Tank Dell suffered a devastating knee injury in Saturday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and is out for the rest of the season. The Texans already lost star receiver Stefon Diggs to a season-ending torn ACL.

Following the pregame altercation, perhaps Mixon will have some extra juice as he tries to lead Houston past Baltimore in a potential preview of the AFC playoffs.