The Cincinnati Bengals made a bold move in the ruthless world of NFL running backs, parting ways with their seasoned player Joe Mixon after his seven-year tenure, as reported by NFL Media on Monday evening. Immediately following this decision, the Bengals swiftly filled the gap by signing former Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss to a two-year, $8 million contract, according to ESPN.
Mixon, who will celebrate his 28th birthday on July 24, leaves behind an impressive legacy in Bengals history. He stands third in rushing yards, amassing 6,412 yards, and second in rushing touchdowns with 49, trailing only Pete Johnson’s 64.
Since his NFL debut in 2017 as a second-round pick from Oklahoma, Mixon’s career rushing yards rank fourth in the league during this period, following Nick Chubb (6,511), Ezekiel Elliott (7,273), and Derrick Henry (9,012).
Over the span of his career, Mixon achieved over 1,000 rushing yards in four out of seven seasons, including a notable 1,034 yards in 2023. His 49 rushing touchdowns place him among the top eight in the NFL since 2017.
Moreover, Mixon contributed significantly as a pass-catcher, securing 283 catches, the seventh-most in the league since 2017, along with 2,139 receiving yards, also ranking seventh during the same period.
In the last three seasons, starting from 2021, only Austin Ekeler (44 scrimmage touchdowns) and Jalen Hurts (38 scrimmage touchdowns) found the end zone more frequently than Mixon. Nonetheless, his release will yield significant savings for the Bengals, freeing up $6.1 million in cap space, as reported by OverTheCap.com.
A notable disparity between Mixon and Moss, who will turn 27 on December 15, lies in their per-carry explosiveness. Mixon has not surpassed an average of 4.1 yards per carry since 2018, whereas Moss has exceeded this figure in three out of his four seasons.
In 2023, Moss achieved career-high statistics in carries (183), rushing yards (794), and rushing touchdowns (eight) while stepping in for Colts Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor, who missed seven games due to a contract holdout (Weeks 1-4) and a thumb injury (Weeks 13-15).
As a starter with eight starts in 2023, Moss averaged 69.8 rushing yards per game, marking the eighth-highest figure in the NFL for that season. Now, the Bengals are eager to see if Moss can bring more dynamism to the forefront in a featured role for the team.
