Cincinnati fans love the players that represent their teams and after the unceremonious departure of fan-favorite pro bowler Joe Mixon, Who Dey Nation might wonder what direction this Bengals’ running back room is taking.
With the signing of former Indianapolis Colt Zack Moss, many Bengals fans don’t know what to expect from their new backfield. As the league transitions more and more to pass-first offensive schemes, it is easy to overlook what a good run game can provide for a team in today’s game. How will this young core of half-backs contribute to Zac Taylor’s offense this coming season?
Zack Moss
On March 11, 2024, the Cincinnati Bengals signed four-year veteran Zack Moss to a two-year, 8-million-dollar deal. Moss, a career backup, has played in 53 games but has only started 11. He played three years in Buffalo behind Devin Singletary and two years as a Colt behind Jonathan Taylor. Moss looks to be a dual-threat option for Joe Burrow this coming season.
Moss is coming to Cincinnati fresh off his most productive season. Last year, in Indianapolis, he had seven touchdowns, five rushing and two receiving. Playing behind both Jonathan Taylor and Devin Singletary for his whole career, Moss has had a limited role for both teams he has played for up to this point. While his stats do not jump off the page, he has performed well as a backup up to this point in his career. Last season, Moss averaged 4.3 yards per carry on 183 attempts through 14 games.
Moss has been a solid rushing back but will provide more for the Bengals as a receiver. Throughout his career, Moss has recorded 75 catches on 100 attempts for an average of seven yards per reception. He will look to find the end zone more often as he has only four career receiving touchdowns. With how frequently Joe Burrow runs screens and checks down to running backs, the total will likely increase drastically during his time with the Bengals.
As the cousin of former receivers Santana and Sinorice Moss, Zack looks to carry on his family’s NFL legacy. He has the skill set to contribute mightily to this Cincinnati offense. With the increased usage he will likely see this coming year, we may look back at this signing as one of the most underrated in the AFC North this offseason.
Chase Brown
The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Chase Brown in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft. Coming out of Illinois, Brown showed us late last season that he has what it takes to become a premier running back in the NFL. Brown was never a highly touted prospect, but in his limited role, he showcased elite speed and athleticism that Bengals fans are excited to see more of.
Brown saw limited action through his first 11 weeks, totaling a whopping 13 yards on two rushing attempts and three receptions. When week 12 came against the Jaguars, Zac Taylor finally showed us what Chase Brown could produce. Brown had nine carries for 61 yards an average of almost seven yards per carry. Then, in week 13 versus the Colts, Brown showed off his potential as a receiving back. Brown had three receptions for 80 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Browning. On that play, Brown displayed his impressive speed and agility with a devastating cutback on the final Colts defender as he strolled into the endzone for his first TD.
Chase Brown, like Zack Moss, will see a massive increase in utilization this coming season. Both as a rusher and receiver, Brown possesses a unique combination of blazing speed and explosive agility. Brown not only has the ability to win the starting role for the Bengals, but he could begin to make a name for himself as one of the league’s premier dual-threat running backs.
2024 Backfield Outlook
Moss and Brown both have the potential to be the number-one option this season. Moss has already proven himself to be a solid receiving back, and Brown’s natural athleticism has plenty of Bengals fans wondering if they got a steal in the fifth round of last year’s draft. While Mixon’s departure might leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many Bengals fans, it was time to switch things up at the running back position. Cincinnati is undoubtedly looking forward to a productive season from their cheap, young halfbacks. With Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans as third and fourth options, we will likely see a healthy mix of all four ball carriers this season.