Sure they can be planted in the ground as long as it has good drainage.

Check out metromaples.com - It's located in Ft Worth and we see similar winter weather as you do and they do fine in the ground.

I have left mine in the ground for several reasons. Some of my purchases are grafts which I am nursing. In other instances, I haven't decided the final location and leaving the plants in pots lets me live with different arrangements until I decide on a final location. Sometimes that might be several years, to see how the plant grows or see how foliage color responds to different lighting conditions.

A lot of people grow JMs in pots because they are relatively small for trees and grow well in containers. However, they will thrive in the ground if the conditions are right. Most like well-drained soil and afternoon shade, particularly in the South.

I buy most of my JMs as newly grafted trees and grow them in pots for several years. If they are larger growing varieties and/or I have a nice spot for them in the yard, I plant them in the ground once they 2'-4' tall. However, some of the dwarfer varieties I intend to keep in pots as long as possible because they look great on my deck and patio.