Bengals flip Joe Mixon for Zack Moss in running back free agency moves

The Bengals wasted no time in replacing Joe Mixon. 

Zack Moss will be Cincinnati’s new running back after agreeing to join the Bengals on a two-year, $8 million deal, NFL Network reported late Monday night. 

Moss, 26, is coming off the best season of his career, rushing for a career-high 794 yards in 14 games – eight of which were starts – and recording five touchdowns with the Colts in 2023. 

Moss had played two-plus seasons for the Bills before ending up in Indianapolis.

Moss seized the opportunity with the Colts after Jonathan Taylor missed time due to a contract dispute and then injuries.

The move ends Mixon’s time in Cincinnati after seven seasons, which included four 1,000-yard rushing seasons. 

Mixon, 27, was released by the Bengals on Monday night as well and the timing of it — after many teams had splurged on running backs in free agency — could hurt his chances of getting a significant contract from another team.

Mixon ran for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns last season with the Bengals. 

There had been some thought that Mixon would have been cut last season, but worked with the Bengals to redo his contract for 2023 and 2024, which would have had him being owed $6 million for the upcoming season. 

Mixon, who was selected in the second round of the 2017 draft, helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl during the 2021 season and made the Pro Bowl that campaign. 

He sits third in franchise history in rushing yards, second in carries and sixth in total touchdowns. 

“He’s always played a big role for us and been a durable guy for us and a physical runner for us and always been available,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor recently said about Mixon, according to The Athletic.

“He’s one of those guys — this last season it was him, Sam Hubbard, Josh Tupou and Tyler Boyd were the last four from when I walked into the building. I always look at Joe Mixon very fondly and appreciate everything that he does for us.”