Players:
28. Joe Mixon
34. Samaje Perine
25. Chris Evans
36. Pooka Williams
32. Trayveon Williams
31. Jacques Patrick
Joe Mixon returns for another year as the top back. He was limited to just 6 games last year, where he rushed for 428 yards on 119 attempts and caught 21 passes for 138 yards. He additionally scored 4 total TD’s. It was a foot injury that forced him to miss the final 10 games of the season. Now that he has returned to full health, he will be looking to bounce back.
Mixon has always had to compete for touches in a crowded backfield, but this time, his path to a three down role should be a lot clearer. Giovani Bernard was heavily leaned on in pass protection and his ability as a receiver also earned him a chunk of the snaps. With Bernard out of the way, it seems Mixon will now take on a larger portion of that role and his ability as a receiver should be better utilized, as well. Offensive coordinator, Brian Callahan even expressed in a recent interview that he wants to keep him on the field as much as possible.
Like Mixon, Samaje Perine should also benefit from Bernard’s departure, as he will likely jump up into that 2nd spot. Perine totaled 367 yards last year and looked solid in a rotational role. He showed off some of that power that he was known for in college. He also was able to break off a few big runs. This season, Perine will again take a clear back seat to Joe Mixon, but as the number 2 back, he should be a bigger part of the rotation than he was early in 2020.
After Mixon and Perine, competition will determine the remaining spots. Rookie 6th round pick, Chris Evans could have an early leg up for that 3rd spot on the depth chart. Aside from being the shiny new toy in the RB room, he possesses a number of qualities that the Bengals like. He is a powerful runner and a good pass catcher, but the thing that appealed most to the Bengals might just be his ability in pass protection. While Mixon should take on more of those duties as well, Evans gives them another option to potentially fill the shoes of Gio Bernard.
Moving on to the 4th spot, the competition gets even tighter. Pooka Williams and Trayveon Williams are both intriguing options and Jacques Patrick should not be forgotten either. Of the two Williamses, Trayveon has the experience that might give him the early lead. He hasn’t been given a ton of opportunities, but he was able to pick up a chunk gain or two, and show off his ability as a receiver out of the backfield. However, Pooka showed electric speed and agility in college, and like Trayveon, is an asset catching passes out of the backfield. As well, his work as a punt returner in OTA’s might just give him that edge. Patrick, meanwhile, is still somewhat of an unknown. He impressed the Bengals enough in his XFL stint to earn a contract. At training camp, he was able to carry over some of that success with a few standout performances. However, it is hard to judge him without seeing significant game action.
After the 2020 preseason was cancelled, this coming one will be critical for fringe guys, like Patrick and the two Williamses. If the Bengals chose to go with only three RB’s on the roster, the final three options could only be fighting for a spot or two on the practice squad. However, if they keep four RB’s on the roster, it leaves the door open for all six currently on the depth chart to stay with the team in some capacity. Regardless of how it plays out, it will be an interesting battle to watch.