Joe Mixon will not be on the Bengals’ roster when a bonus vests later this week. The Bengals are moving on from their seven-year starting running back, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.
This was a rumored scenario in Cincinnati, with Mixon agreeing to a reworked contract last summer. Cincy is also bringing in a replacement. Zack Moss will be the latest 2023 RB starter to change teams, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting the recent Colt will sign a two-year deal to join the Bengals. Moss will head for the AFC North on a two-year, $8MM pact. The Bengals will save $6.1MM by releasing Mixon, who was due a $3MM bonus Saturday.
Mixon came with considerable controversy when the Bengals drafted him — due to a video catching him striking a woman while at Oklahoma, leading to a team-imposed suspension — and a 2023 arrest became a headache for the team. (Mixon was found not guilty on an aggravated menacing charge in August.)
The 27-year-old back has operated as a fixture in Cincinnati’s offense dating back to the Marvin Lewis–Andy Dalton era. But last year’s contract redo — a two-year, $11.5MM pact that significantly reduced Mixon’s pay, after he had signed a four-year, $48MM deal in 2020 — displayed some wall writing for the Bengals, whose roster blueprint is different with Joe Burrow on an NFL-record extension.
The Bengals still leaned on Mixon in 2023, having lost Samaje Perine to the Broncos in free agency. Mixon churned out his fourth 1,000-yard season. In addition to clearing that barrier, Mixon crossed 1,400 scrimmage yards (1,410) for the fourth time. He added 12 touchdowns in what amounted to a lost season due to Burrow’s injury. As the musical chairs spin at this position, Mixon is much shorter on options than he was coming into Monday.
Mixon stood 35 yards away from James Brooks for second in Bengals rushing annals, and while he should have an opportunity in 2024, Cincinnati is moving on. The team will turn to Moss, who is going into his age-26 season. Moss impressed as the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor fill-in last season and will collect a bit of guaranteed money from his new team. The ex-Bills second-rounder will collect $4.5MM in the first year of this Bengals contract. Moss tallied 794 rushing yards and five touchdowns as a Colt last season, adding two receiving scores.
One of the teams to lose a running back today, the Cowboys were also in the mix for Moss. Dallas was not quite willing to go where Cincinnati was, per the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken. Whereas Mixon has 1,571 carries on his odometer — more than any back to change teams today — Moss is at just 484. At a position where mileage matters most, the Bengals are rebooting. Moss will join Chase Brown and the recently re-signed Trayveon Williams in Cincinnati’s backfield.
Thus far Monday, 12 teams changed starting running backs. A few clubs still have needs, and Mixon will join Aaron Jones — also released today — and Derrick Henry as big names in search of a new opportunity.
Giants line 1 Joe come to Ny and prove yourself
Mixon will be a back up for maybe 2 years and be out of the league. Harsh life of a RB
Rough business…
This dude has been a good player for Cincy
Couldn’t disagree more. Having watched every bengals his whole career, he’s been vastly overrated.
There’s a reason chase brown ripped all the explosive plays.
Brown the starter n moss the 3rd down guy since brown probably can’t block yet
He had great moments but severely hurt us with his inability to pass block
So are the entire Bengals team.
Out of all the RBs on the market with go with Moss????? Hope we plan one drafting one but probably not because Taylor doesn’t value the run game and just calls draws exclusively
Saw that coming. Best landing spots for him are Raiders, Ravens, Texans, Cowboys or Patriots
Not the Pats, unless he signs for cheap.
Pats have plenty of money what you mean?
They already signed a RB yesterday. That’s why.
Yeah Raiders were my first guess, Marvin Lewis drafted him
I like Moss but why cut a still productive RB like Mixon who provides outstanding ball security (a fumble every 220 carries on average)? A significant number of games are decided by turnovers so the Bengals are taking a risk here.
$. That’s why.
Remember when running backs were an important piece of a team? Seems now they’re a dime a dozen.