As one Bengals running back went down, the team brought in another.
After recent reports that Zack Moss, who opened the 2024 season as Cincinnati’s starter, is expected to miss an extended period with a neck injury, the Bengals acquired Khalil Herbert from the Bears before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline .
As second-year guard Chase Brown began to significantly reduce Moss’ playing time, he will now be the full-time starter in Cincinnati, with Herbert and others filling depth roles.
As the Bengals prepare to take on the Ravens on “Thursday Night Football” to open Week 10, here’s what their backroom currently looks like.
MORE: A complete list of deals reached at the NFL trade deadline
Bengals RB Depth Chart
| Rank | Come back running |
| 1 | Chase Brown |
| 2 | Zack Moss (outgoing) |
| 3 | Khalil Herbert |
| 4 | Trayveon Williams |
| 5 | Kendall Milton |
No. 1: Chase Brown
After being drafted in the fifth round in 2023, Brown was not used much in his rookie season, recording 44 carries in 12 games. However, early this season, Brown was expected to split time with Moss after the Bengals traded Joe Mixon in the offseason.
During the first part of the season, Brown and Moss split, but with Brown running for 4.6 yards per carry compared to Moss’s 3.3, the opportunities were going the 24-year-old’s way first. years. Then, Moss went down before Week 9 with a neck injury.
With Moss out of the picture for now, Cincinnati’s RB1 spot is Brown’s to lose. He earned his first opportunity as a full-time fullback against the Raiders in Week 9, totaling 120 rushing yards on the ground in addition to 37 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air.
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No. 2: Zack Moss (outgoing)
If healthy, Moss would continue to be the Bengals’ 1B option. He had 74 carries and 23 receptions in eight games before his injury, which could sideline him for the remainder of the 2024 regular season.
Moss, a Bill and Colt alum, got the first real starting opportunity of his career with Cincinnati this season. However, it didn’t go as planned, as he averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry and is now dealing with an injury.
No. 3: Khalil Herbert
New Bengals running back Herbert will step into the void created by Moss’ injury. He’s unlikely to gain the volume as Moss, as Herbert has only eight carries in six games with the Bears this season.
The fourth-year running back has had solid seasons in Chicago, including 611 rushing yards, 134 receiving yards and three total touchdowns on 4.6 yards per carry in 2023. Like Brown, Herbert offers scoring skills. pass catching, so his versatility could prove valuable to Cincinnati throughout this season as it fights to return to the AFC playoff roster.
MORE: An updated look at the NFL playoff picture as Week 10 approaches
No. 4: Trayveon Williams
No Bengals running back besides Brown and Moss have been retained this season. However, the team has two other guards on its roster.
Williams is one of them, and he has been used occasionally as a kickoff returner in 2024. The sixth-year running back has spent his entire career in a Bengals uniform, but has 62 carries in career.
No. 5: Kendall Milton
Milton rounds out Cincinnati’s running back unit, but he hasn’t seen any action this season. The rookie from Georgia is only 22 years old and for now, he will be an important piece for the Bengals, with Brown and Herbert likely dominating opportunities during the rest of the regular season.
