Texans training camp preview: Can Joe Mixon balance offense?

HOUSTON -- The Houston Texansopened up their 2024 training camp with veterans and rookies reporting on Wednesday to NRG Stadium. Here's a closer look at a few storylines from camp.

Training camp is a success if... It's clear that the offense appears to be meshing with all the new pieces.

The Texans added two Pro Bowlers in wide receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon in the offseason, and they join an offense with tight end Dalton Schultz and the receiving duo of Nico Collins and Tank Dell.

That's a lot of mouths to feed. But if the Texans leave training camp, and it's clear that quarterback C.J. Stroud and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik can drum up an offense that features everyone then that's a success. The ceiling of the season relies on how explosive their offense can be.

Most impactful offseason addition: Diggs.

The biggest blockbuster move the Texans made was trading for Diggs from the Buffalo Bills. That's why the expectation in Houston is that they can compete at the highest levels within the AFC.

They already had a star talent at quarterback, a dynamic pass rush, weapons and a respectable offensive line. But the Diggs move showed that the Texans felt they're close and wanted a piece to get them to the next level.

Since 2020, the two-time All-Pro receiver is first in receptions (445), fourth in touchdowns (37) and fourth in receiving yards (5,372). If the Texans get that level of production, Stroud could post MVP numbers.

The player with the most to prove: Mixon.

Mixon, who turns 28 on Wednesday, is around the age of when running backs begin to tail off, and it's part of the reason why the Cincinnati Bengals were willing to trade him to Houston. The Texans are betting Mixon won't have a fall off and can still be a 1,000-yard rusher, which he was last season.

They gave him a three-year, $27 million contract extension after acquiring him in March, so there's high hopes for him. The former second-round pick could balance out this potentially explosive offense in a way that could keep defenses consistently guessing if they can lift a run game that ranked tied for 22nd last season.