Mixon won't be indicted in connection with a shooting that occurred near his home March 6, Ben Baby of ESPN reports.
What it means:
Per Baby, Mixon's home was part of a crime scene investigation where a teenager was shot in the foot while playing "Nerf wars," described by the report as a game involving toy guns. While Mixon's sister and her boyfriend reportedly face indictments stemming from the incident, the running back won't be subject to any criminal punishment. This past season, Mixon -- who is under contract with the Bengals through 2024 -- carried 210 times for 814 yards and seven TDs to go along with 60 catches for 441 yards and a pair of receiving scores in 14 games.
Mixon's charge of aggravated menacing was dismissed by the Hamilton County (Ohio) Municipal Court on Friday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports
What it means:
An arrest warrant was issued for Mixon on Thursday, after which the Bengals released a statement: "The club is aware misdemeanor charges have been raised against Joe Mixon. The club is investigating the situation and will not comment further at this time." While the initial charge now isn't actionable, the presiding judge of the court said it could be refiled after further investigation. As such, Mixon doesn't appear to be out of the woods yet on the legal front, meaning punishment from the NFL remains a possibility.
Mixon has been issued an arrest warrant on a count of aggravated menacing, per Hamilton County (Ohio) Court records, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
What it means:
The Bengals released a statement in the wake of the news: "The club is aware misdemeanor charges have been raised against Joe Mixon. The club is investigating the situation and will not comment further at this time." With the entire offseason ahead of him, the NFL will allow the legal process to play itself out before determining if any sort of punishment will be levied upon Mixon under the personal conduct policy.
Mixon rushed eight times for 19 yards and caught all three of his targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 23-20 AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs.
What it means:
With Cincinnati's offensive line needing all the blocking help it could get against Kansas City's pass rush, Mixon ceded significant playing time to superior blocker Samaje Perine, who had 26 scrimmage yards on eight touches, including a two-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was a disappointing ending to an up and down season for Mixon, who had five scrimmage touchdowns in Week 9 against the Panthers but only five touchdowns in 16 other appearances between the regular season and playoffs. Mixon has two years remaining on his deal with the Bengals, while Perine's set to be an unrestricted free agent.
Mixon rushed 20 times for 105 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Bills in the AFC divisional round. He also caught two of three targets for 18 yards.
What it means:
Mixon dashed through the snow behind a dominant offensive line, topping the 100-yard mark for the first time since his Week 9 explosion versus the Panthers. The tailback also plowed his way in for one-yard touchdown to close the third quarter, helping Cincinnati extend its one-score lead at the time. Mixon will now set his sights on next Sunday's matchup versus the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Although he was sidelined for his team's meeting with Kansas City in Week 13 of the regular season, Mixon totaled 115 yards on 24 touches in last year's AFC Championship Game victory at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mixon rushed 11 times for 39 yards while catching three of four targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 24-17 wild-card round win over the Ravens.
What it means:
Mixon failed to find much running room as the Bengals had to grind out difficult drives against the tough Baltimore defense. Joe Burrow vultured a short touchdown with a quarterback sneak, but Samaje Perine had just three scrimmage yards on two carries and one target, so Mixon should have an opportunity to bounce back with another sizable workload against the Bills in the AFC divisional round.