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Nick Caserio: Texans have no more clarity on when Joe Mixon will return

Texans running back Joe Mixon hasn't played at all this season because of a foot injury. Six weeks ago, Texans General Manager Nick Caserio said he expected to know more about Mixon's status in a few weeks. It's been more than a few weeks, and the Texans still don't know when Mixon will be able to go.

Caserio said on Sports Radio 610 that the team still doesn't have any update about Mixon's recovery.

“It's not that I'm trying to be evasive, it’s just a very gray situation," Caserio said. "Joe’s worked at it. There were times where he’s made progress and other times when the progress is kind of stalled. Players in his situation are on the reserve list until they're not. Joe's doing everything he can. Obviously we’re getting pretty late in the game here, so I don’t want to establish any sort of expectations. A month ago or whatever it was, I mentioned we'd have a better idea in three or four weeks, or whatever it was. I don’t think we have any more clarity at this point. I think at this point he’s out until he’s not. It's a very gray, a lot of ambiguity, there's not a lot of clarity, it's nobody's fault, it's just the reality of the situation."

Mixon was placed on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp, and the Texans haven't explained how he hurt his foot in the first place. Last year Mixon was the Texans' leading rusher, with 1,016 yards, while this year they've turned to Nick Chubb, who has 419 yards through 10 games.

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NHL Nugget: McDavid's First Hat Trick Ended A Drought This Day In 2016

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Wild Wednesday Rewind flashes back to Nov. 19, 2016, when Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid stole the spotlight against the Dallas Stars.

McDavid, a sophomore at the time, entered his 19th game of the season with a 10-game goal drought. But not only did he stop the scoring rut there, but the budding superstar went a step further with his first career hat trick. Watch the full video for more.

"Three pretty lucky goals," McDavid told reporters at the time. "It's a funny league that that way. You get Grade-A chances, and they're not going in, then you start putting it there, and they are going in. It's weird that way. Definitely happy to get off that slump."

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.    

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Are The Detroit Red Wings For Real?

For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Detroit Red Wings have 12 wins through their first 20 games of the season. They currently sit atop the Atlantic Division roughly a quarter of the way through the season and it begs the question of if this team has what it takes to end Detroit's near decade long playoff drought?

They currently sit fifth in the NHL standings with 25 points, matching the Anaheim Ducks, despite posting only middling numbers across the board. Detroit ranks 18th in both goals for and goals against, averaging 3.00 and 3.10 respectively. Those marks still represent an improvement from last season, when the club finished 22nd in scoring at 2.87 goals per game and 21st defensively with a 3.16 goals-against average.

Rookie Defenseman Shocks NHL as Early Calder Trophy Front-RunnerRookie Defenseman Shocks NHL as Early Calder Trophy Front-RunnerAn 18-year-old defenseman is shattering expectations, logging elite minutes and dominating the early Calder Trophy race against a loaded rookie class.

Special teams have also taken a noticeable step forward with Detroit’s power play climbing to 13th and the penalty kill ranks 14th, a dramatic leap after finishing last in the league on the kill a year ago. While the Red Wings would like their power play to return to last season’s fourth-place form, maintaining a top-13 ranking marks positive progress.

Contributions have started to come from throughout the lineup like in Detroit’s most recent win, rookie center Nate Danielson delivered a sensational performance, scoring the team’s second goal, narrowly adding a highlight-reel second goal that was overturned for offside, and later setting up a crucial power-play goal with a stellar assist. Detroit's ninth overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft has been just one part of a growing youth movement on the team that includes early-season Calder Trophy contender Emmitt Finnie. 

Finnie opened his rookie campaign with eight points in his first nine NHL games while skating on the top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. A subsequent 10-game scoring drought bumped him to the second line, but he broke through again on Tuesday after being reunited with former AHL linemate Danielson. The pair clicked immediately on the second power-play unit, combining for Finnie’s fifth goal of the season.

Red Wings' stars continue to drive the offense with forwards in Larkin, Raymond and Alex DeBrincat all surpassing 22 points, placing Detroit among only three NHL teams to boast three players at that mark, alongside Colorado and Toronto. On the blue line, Moritz Seider has 12 points in 20 games and is tracking just shy of his career-high 50-point pace.

Depth scoring remains inconsistent as veterans in Mason Appleton and Andrew Copp are on pace for roughly 33 points, below Detroit’s expectations for Copp, who is typically a 40- to 50-point contributor. This also doesn't include J. T. Compher and James van Riemsdyk, who have also struggled with Compher on a 25-point pace and van Riemsdyk managing only two points through 15 games. Former first-round pick Marco Kasper has been quiet with three goals and no assists in 20 games after a promising finish last year. The Red Wings hope Danielson’s emergence may eventually fill its longstanding need for a reliable second-line center that was supposed to be Kasper's role before he lost the job with his poor performance lately. 

Detroit also faces uncertainty in net after trading for former All-Star John Gibson in the offseason, yet the veteran hasn't settled into form. Gibson holds a 3.31 goals-against average and an .875 save percentage in 11 starts this season. While he may still be adjusting to his new environment, patience is beginning to wear thin, especially with Cam Talbot outperforming him with an 8-2-0 record and a 2.64 goals-against average. Head coach Todd McLellan continues to give Gibson opportunities, publicly showing faith that the former Jennings Trophy winner can rebound.

Despite a difficult stretch of road games, the Red Wings have repeatedly found answers and if they can develop more consistent depth scoring, the team could start to resemble other contenders like Vegas or Carolina. But questions remain, and sportsbooks remain skeptical of Detroit’s staying power with the Red Wings currently listed at +135 to make the playoffs, reflecting the expectation that teams like Florida and Toronto will bounce back and rise in the standings as the season continues. Detroit also faces pressure from Boston, Montreal and a perennial challenger in Tampa Bay.

Are The Boston Bruins For Real?Are The Boston Bruins For Real?Boston's impressive win streak ignites debate. Can Pastrnak and Geekie lead this resurgent team past last year's playoff disappointment?

The schedule ahead will offer a clearer picture of whether Detroit’s strong start is sustainable. Upcoming matchups with the surging Islanders, Devils and a two-game set against the Bruins could prove pivotal in shaping the divisional race. As December approaches, fans in the Motor City may begin to feel the stirrings of a genuine playoff push. They can only hope the ending differs from the one experienced by the Detroit Tigers in their divisional race this past season. 

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