Tag: Zack Moss

Watch: Bengals RB Zack Moss puts up huge workout numbers

New Bengals RB Zack Moss putting up big numbers.

New Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss now has his first highlight moment well before he actually partakes in a game.

This week, the Bengals social media team shared some of Moss’ own workout footage during offseason training.

In the footage, Moss puts up well over 400 pounds on a squat.

Moss is clearly working hard ahead of what might be the most important year of his career. He arrives in Cincinnati with the possibility of getting the most usage he’s seen to date while pairing with Chase Brown after the Bengals traded Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans.

A look at the brief clip:

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Zack Moss sounds hyped to join Joe Burrow’s Bengals offense

Interesting comments from new Bengals RB Zack Moss.

The Cincinnati Bengals have big plans for new running back Zack Moss and they’ve said as much in interviews since signing the former Indianapolis Colts running back in free agency.

As for Moss himself? He recently popped up with Kay Adams on the “Up and Adams” show and said general scheme fit was a big part of his signing with the team.

But so were the weapons around him.

ā€œItā€™s hard to turn down a guy like Burrow…guys like Chase andĀ  Higgins and just all the talent on both sides of the ball,ā€ Moss said. ā€œItā€™s so much space. That really intrigued me. Being able to play in a box when you only got six guys, maybe seven, and if thereā€™s seven, itā€™s kind of gonna be real hard for them to defend the pass game. So itā€™s just something that I was like very, very intrigued about and super excited to be a Bengal.ā€

Moss will pair with sophomore Chase Brown in a one-two combo for the Bengals that is a little more of a scheme fit than they had with Joe Mixon, who is now a member of the Houston Texans.

While Moss’ arrival won’t stop the Bengals from adding another running back in the draft at the right value, it’s this easy-to-see collaboration with Brown and the overall offense that had the veteran running back interested in the Bengals.

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Bengals speak on plan for Zack Moss-Chase Brown RB combo

The Bengals have big plans for the new-look backfield.

As expected, the Cincinnati Bengals have plotted out a committee at running back by adding free agent Zack Moss to the running back room alongside Chase Brown.

Moss, who came over via free agency from the Colts as the team did the surprise Joe Mixon trade with the Texans, is a veteran who looks like the lead back.

But 2023 fifth-rounder Brown is right there, too, in the plans, especially when coaches get in front of microphones and talk about the room.

“It’s definitely going to be collaborative,” offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “You look across the league at that position anymore, and I think you’re best off when you’re sharing the workload with multiple people. Whether it’s two, three, four people. Everybody kind of fills their role. We’ll figure it out, but it comes back to what I’ve been saying all offseason. ‘What’s it going to take this week?'”

A year ago, the 26-year-old Brown took a career-high 183 carries and averaged 4.3 yards with five touchdowns, so the uptick in workload showcased what he might do with an even bigger chance.

And then there was Brown as a rookie who averaged 4.1 yards over 44 carries and would’ve had a bigger role last season were it not for an ill-timed injury.

Yet, fans will recall highs like this:

Talk of a committee approach doesn’t mean the Bengals won’t add another running back via the draft at the right value. But right now, the Moss-Brown combo certainly seems to be the plan.

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Look: Highlights for new Bengals RB Zack Moss

Highlights from the newest Joe Burrow weapon in the Bengals offense.

The Cincinnati Bengals really wanted free-agent running back Zack Moss.

So much so, while they saved cap space by cutting Joe Mixon in the process, the front office also outbid a big-spender like the Dallas Cowboys for his services.

One look at the highlights explains why.

Sure, there are advanced metrics like rushing yards over expected per carry (+0.71) to explain Moss’ effectiveness. But the eye test? There’s plenty of value in that for fans, too, especially so soon after a signing.

Here’s a look at some of the best highlights of Moss’ pro career to date from a variety of games:

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How much are the Bengals paying free agent Zack Moss?

A Bengals cap space update and look at Zack Moss’ contract.

The Cincinnati Bengals made sure to outpsend a team like the Dallas Cowboys while agreeing to sign running back Zack Moss in free agency.

That feat, plus a pretty unique two-year structure for the club, was a testament to just how much the team liked the versatile running back, who they will pair with Chase Brown in a committee to replace the Joe Mixon era.

And that aggressiveness is merely a two-year contract worth $8 million with $4.525 in Year 1. Mixon, on the other hand, had an $8.85 million cap hit next year and a $3 million roster bonus due on March 17 (hence the quick move).

So on paper, the Bengals saved that $3 million and saved a chunk of cap space, too, in the $6.1 million range.

Tack on Geno Stone’s arrival via free agency, which is estimated to be a roughly $6 million cap hit in Year 1, and the Bengals should have roughly $30 million in free cap space after accounting for a draft class that includes a newly-awarded third-round compensatory pick.

This roughly $30 million will change dramatically in the coming days, if not hours, as the Bengals make further signings. They can even save cap space, too (cutting Nick Scott after Stone’s arrival, for example, or a Tee Higgins extension and/or trade). But the ultimate takeaway is the Bengals got younger and more versatile while saving a small chunk of change with the Moss signing.

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Bengals outbid Dallas Cowboys in free agency for RB Zack Moss

The Bengals paid up to outbid the Cowboys for Zack Moss.

The Cincinnati Bengals fended off some competition for new running back Zack Moss.

Moss, who will sign a two-year deal with the Bengals and will replace Joe Mixon, had interest from other teams on the market.

According to the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken, the Dallas Cowboys were in on Moss until “the price extended past their comfort point” on Monday.

That price is a two-year deal worth $8 million that includes $4.525 million in the first year. Those Cowboys lost Tony Pollard, yet found themselves outspent by the Bengals.

For the Bengals, it’s a big win to get an explosive back who excels in pass protection and should form a solid committee with Chase Brown. It’s also again refreshing to see the front office open up the checkbook and get in the ring with other teams while doing a pretty unique two-year structure that secures an upgrade.

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Zack Moss agrees to deal with Bengals, what that means for Colts

Zack Moss is heading to Cincinnati. What does that mean for the Colts?

Indianapolis Colts pending free agent running back Zack Moss found a new home in free agency, agreeing to a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals late Monday night.

It was expected that Moss could have outpriced himself in the market for the Colts after his impressive showing during the early portion of the 2023 season while Jonathan Taylor was absent between an ankle injury and a contract dispute.

Now, the Colts have to find a new backup running back to supplant Moss’ role as a change-of-pace option.

Losing Moss isn’t a massive deal in terms of the on-field impact. He’s a good player, of course, but there are plenty of running backs capable of filling the void behind Taylor, who will continue to be the starter.

Moss will be missed in the locker room, though, and there’s a good chance he works his way into the starting role in Cincinnati, especially after the team cut Joe Mixon.

Where the Colts go from here will be interesting. They can look to free agency to add a veteran backup. If they do, we shouldn’t expect them to go after any big names or sink any significant salary-cap space into the position.

Maybe they re-sign Trey Sermon, who served in a depth role during the 2023 season. They’re expected to get 2023 fifth-round pick Evan Hull back from a knee injury that claimed his entire rookie season, but it isn’t clear how the Colts view his outlook.

They could also go after a bruiser like D’Onta Foreman or opt for cheaper options like Rico Dowdle and Royce Freeman.

There’s a chance the Colts use another draft pick at the position, but that likely wouldn’t come until Day 3.

Either way, the Colts have another backup position to fill this offseason after Moss got a well-deserved contract with the potential to be a starter.

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Fantasy Football Fallout: Bengals to replace Joe Mixon with Zack Moss

There’s a changing of the guard in Cincinnati’s backfield.

Longtime Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon will be released and replaced by free-agent RB Zack Moss, helping the team get younger and the books get lighter.

3/12 update: Mixon was traded to the Houston Texans instead of being released.

Mixon has become mostly a plodder the past few seasons, though the seven-year pro has developed a nose for the end zone as his career has chugged along. In the first four years, he found paydirt 25 total times but has posted 37 scores in the past three campaigns. The ascension of Joe Burrow hasn’t hurt his cause, preventing defenses from fully selling out in the red zone. An adept receiver and quality blocker, Mixon should pick up in Houston where he left off, despite entering his age-28 season.

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As for Moss, he split time early in his career with Buffalo before being sent to the Indianapolis Colts a couple of years back. He filled in admirably for Jonathan Taylor last year, generating 466 rushing yards, 576 total yards, and five offensive TDs between Week 2 and Week 6. He remained involved upon Taylor’s return until seeing his workload significantly decrease before fracturing his forearm late in the year.

Moss has enough talent to be a three-down option, though it’s likely Cincinnati works in Chase Brown to enough of a degree that this might even devolve into a full-on committee.

Fantasy football outlook

It’s simply too early to make a definitive fantasy claim as to Moss’ value, but he has a prime opportunity to finish in the neighborhood of RB10 to RB15 with a similar workload to what Mixon has offered in recent years. He’s not the same quality pass catcher, but Moss isn’t the worst receiver out of the backfield, either.

We’ll do a deep dive on this situation following the NFL draft. In the meantime, Moss’ dynasty worth is trending upward, and all gamers should be optimistic about his upcoming season.

Bengals release Joe Mixon, agree to terms with RB Zack Moss

The Bengals make a huge change at running back.

The Cincinnati Bengals have made a major change at the running back position.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team has parted ways with Joe Mixon and signed free agent Zack Moss to a two-year deal worth $8 million.

Moss, 26, is a former third-round pick who spent time between Buffalo and Indianapolis before joining the Bengals and averages 4.3 yards per carry on his career and has 75 passes.

As for Mixon, he took a pay cut to stay with the Bengals last season but had a $8.85 million cap hit next year and a $3 million roster bonus on March 17.

In short, if the Bengals found an option they liked that they considered an upgrade before that cutoff date, this was the likely move.

That option is Moss, who will split time with Chase Brown next season in the backfield.

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Packers reportedly interested in free agent RB Zack Moss

The Packers are reported to have interest in free agent running back Zack Moss.

At some point this offseason, the Packers need to address the running back position. At the very least, they are exploring the free agent market, with interest in Zack Moss, according to Aaron Wilson.

Moss was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2020 and spent the last season and a half with the Indianapolis Colts. For his career, he has averaged 4.3 yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns. Last season, specifically, Moss averaged 4.3 yards per rush with five touchdowns and 793 rushing yards.

Although AJ Dillon has been a reliable running back behind Aaron Jones, what the Packers need is more playmaking in that secondary running back role, who is going to see his share of touches as the Packers continue to be mindful of Jonesā€™ workload. Dillon would average just 3.4 yards per carry last season.

Moss would help provide that needed juice to the backfield. Over the last two seasons, he has forced 60 missed tackles, and recorded 30 runs of 10-plus yards, along with 12 rushes of 15 or more yards.

When a defense has to be mindful of a running backā€™s ability to pick up chunk plays, that then opens up opportunities in the passing game and can keep defenses off-balanced and guessing, especially in the Matt LaFleur offense where concepts in the passing game build off of what is established in the ground game.

PFF is projecting that the Moss will earn a two-year deal worth $7.5 million in free agency.

The potential addition of Moss shouldnā€™t stop the Packers from also adding to the running back position in the draft. Jones is potentially in his final season with the Packers while Moss is not a long-term answer at the position.

However, what this signing would provide is some stability at the position, and some competition for Emanuel Wilson, and some immediate help for the offense.

Although, understandably so, Jordan Love and the passing game garnered much of the attention late in the season, the emergence of the run game played an important factor in the passing gameā€™s success.