The Cincinnati Bengals needed more running back depth after Joe Mixon was sold to the Texans on Tuesday. Zack
Moss was signed to fill that need.
After having his best NFL season, Moss stated this week that he is eager to contribute more to a new team and is
prepared to do whatever is necessary to support the Cincy offense.
“However I can help this team,” Moss stated on the official website following his signing. “I’m going to try to do
whatever my duty is called that week, whether it’s catching the ball, running the ball, or keeping Joe (Burrow) clean
as much as I can with the big players up front.
After being selected in the third round by the Bills in 2020, Moss, now 26 years old, spent the first two and a half
years of his career playing snaps behind the secondary, and he continued in that capacity after being moved to the
Colts in the middle of the 2022 season.
Moss, however, seized the chance to play as the starting running back for Indianapolis in 2023 after Jonathan
Taylor, the primary running back, was sidelined by injury once more.
With career-highs in rushing attempts (183), yards (794), and touchdowns (5) in 14 appearances, eight starts, he
concluded the season as the Colts’ top rusher. Moss demonstrated his versatility in the system by adding 27
receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
Moss received a two-year, $8 million contract with the Bengals as compensation for his efforts during the free agency
period. With his new team, he now has the opportunity to build on his breakout season.
Cincinnati loses their top rusher of the previous several seasons with the trade of Mixon, leaving Moss and rookie RB
Chase Brown to fill the void.
With 1,527 run yards collected last season, Mixon accounted for more than two-thirds of the Bengals’ 31st-place
finish in the league. A revival of the unit is much required now that the bell-cow RB has left, and it appears that a
committee approach will be taken this time.
Brown, who saw little play as a rookie but had 44 carries for 179 yards in 2023, was second on the team. Moss and
Brown are anticipated to share carries. However, offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher says it’s still unclear how the
snaps will be split up.
Pitcher declared, “There will be collaboration involved.” “Now that you’re looking across the league at that position, I
believe it’s best to share the workload with multiple people.” Counting from two to four persons. Everyone sort of
plays the part. things all boils down to what I’ve been saying all summer; we’ll work things out. “How long will it take
this week?”
Because of Burrow’s firepower, Cincinnati has also
made a name for itself as a pass-heavy system, which
can limit a running back’s opportunities. However, in
response to a question regarding his perspective on his
involvement in this kind of offensive, Moss stated that
it doesn’t alter his resolve, only his strategy of seeking
out fresh opportunities to make an impression. “I’ve been in a pass-happy offense before and in that role you just
kind of find out ways where you can help the team,” Moss stated. “Well, it was when I was in Buffalo. How can I
improve as a pass blocker? And that has supported me as a back over the years and helped me be ready for every
move I’ve taken.”
