The Cincinnati Bengals received some positive news with a 41-24 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. However, the bad news is that they won the game without running back Zack Moss, who was sidelined due to a potential neck injury that surfaced Thursday night before Week 9.
The situation worsened on Monday when head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that Moss will be out indefinitely due to the neck injury.
This is a significant blow for both Moss and the Bengals. Cincinnati signed Moss to a two-year, $8 million deal in the offseason, and he’s quickly become a key piece in the Bengals’ offense, alongside second-year running back Chase Brown. Through the first eight games of the season, Moss has recorded 74 carries for 242 yards and two touchdowns. He has also contributed in the passing game, catching 23 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown.
With Moss out indefinitely and Brown dealing with a rib injury, the Bengals may need to explore the trade market to bolster their backfield. At 4-5, with the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers and 6-3 Baltimore Ravens ahead of them in the AFC North standings, the Bengals cannot afford to stand still, even though Brown performed well in a lead role against the Raiders, rushing for 120 yards on 27 carries and adding a receiving touchdown.
“We’re going through the process of seeing what’s available, seeing where we can help ourselves in all areas, and we’ll go from there,” Taylor said when asked about potentially acquiring a running back, according to ESPN.
Given the circumstances, here are three running back options the Bengals should consider:
1. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are struggling with a 2-7 record and are on a two-game losing streak. With tough matchups against the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and Houston Texans ahead, the Jaguars could find themselves with a 2-10 record by December. As a result, they might enter a fire sale, making running back Travis Etienne Jr. potentially available.
Etienne, though sharing duties with Tank Bigsby in Jacksonville’s backfield, has still managed 59 carries for 254 yards and two touchdowns this season. Like Moss, he’s also a threat as a receiver. If the Bengals can get Etienne without committing long-term, he could serve as a valuable short-term addition, and if they decide to keep him, his 2025 club option could make him an appealing longer-term solution.
2. Devin Singletary, New York Giants
Devin Singletary, now in his sixth season, may not have lived up to the expectations as a third-round pick for the Buffalo Bills in 2019, but he has carved out a solid career. With 4,332 career rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, Singletary has been a reliable option in the backfield. He also has 1,251 receiving yards and four touchdowns over his career, making him a dual-threat back who could add both rushing and receiving depth to the Bengals’ offense.
