Could a 30-year-old free agent be exactly what the Seattle Seahawks need right now? I think he could. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that free agent running back Joe Mixon is working out with the Seahawks on Monday afternoon. That’s a smart move by Seattle to see what he has left in the tank.

Jordan Schultz has since reported that the Seahawks are signing Joe Mixon to their roster. It’s a move that makes a ton of sense for the team given their injury situation.

Mixon hasn’t played since the 2024 season, when he was with the Houston Texans. Even so, his résumé speaks for itself. He topped 1,000 yards with the Texans in 2024 and did it with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023 as well. He’s reached that mark five times in his career, and is an extremely talented back.

Now, the only knock on him is his age. Running backs don’t usually get better at 30, and that’s a fair concern. But Seattle isn’t looking for a long-term answer here.

Why the Seahawks need help in the backfield

Look, this move makes sense when you see what the Seahawks are dealing with. Seattle just placed Jadarian Price on injured reserve due to a chest injury suffered in practice last week. The Seahawks first-round pick will be sidelined for a minimum of at least three more games. 

Reports also stated Zach Charbonnet won’t be back for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, even though he has opened his 21-day return-to-practice window. The earliest we could see him is Week 6.That leaves a thin room. 

Emanuel Wilson did some excellent things in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and he was the best thing going in the backfield. He was one of my top winners from that game. The problem? Seattle didn’t have a one-two punch. George Holani couldn’t get anything going.

I think Holani had a great opportunity against the Chargers, and he didn’t take advantage of it. That’s a big deal for him. Mike Macdonald, Brian Fleury, and the rest of the staff have wanted a reliable one-two punch in the backfield this entire season. Working out Mixon is the next step toward finding that dynamic player.

A short-term fix with big stakes

Obviously, Mixon probably isn’t somebody who sticks on the Seattle roster for very long. Don’t get me wrong, that’s fine. He could fill a much-needed gap for one game or maybe even a few, and that’s all the Seahawks need from him at this point.

Plus, this next game really matters. First of all, it’s a division game against the 49ers. On top of that, it will determine first place in the division. There’s a lot of football left even after Sunday, but nobody wants to fall behind San Francisco this early.

Make no mistake, Seattle desperately needs that second back. With Price and Charbonnet out, the Seahawks need someone to step up alongside Wilson, and Holani hasn’t proven he’s that guy yet.

That’s where Mixon comes in. He doesn’t need to carry the offense. He just needs to give Wilson a breather and keep defenses honest when he’s on the field. A back with five 1,000-yard seasons on his résumé should be able to handle that role, even after a year away.

Seattle clearly liked enough of what he showed in his workout to feel like he can be that guy. He doesn’t need to be the 1,000-yard back he was in Houston. Joe Mixon just needs to give the Seahawks a legitimate one-two punch against the 49ers, and I believe he can do just that.