The Cincinnati Bengals are undergoing a transition in their running back position, with Joe Mixon being released and a replacement swiftly identified.
According to NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero on Tuesday night, the Bengals are parting ways with Mixon while securing former Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss on a two-year, $8 million deal.
Mixon’s departure, a move speculated about since the previous off-season, follows seven seasons with the Bengals, during which he achieved his fourth 1,000-yard rushing campaign. A former second-round pick, Mixon played a pivotal role in the Bengals’ Super Bowl LVI run and earned a Pro Bowl selection in the 2021 season.
The 27-year-old’s exit also provides Cincinnati with $6.1 million in salary cap relief, some of which is being allocated towards Moss’s contract.
Meanwhile, Moss, aged 26, is coming off his most impressive season to date, having seamlessly filled in for Jonathan Taylor during the 2023 season with the Colts. He recorded a career-high 794 rushing yards in 14 games, including eight starts, and his five rushing touchdowns marked a personal best.
After spending over two seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Moss appears to be hitting his stride. With Mixon departing Cincinnati, Moss steps in to fill the void in the Bengals’ backfield.
