Bengals RB depth chart: Khalil Herbert to back up breakout star Chase Brown after Zack Moss’s injury
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.
While second-year back Chase Brown was starting to heavily cut into Moss’ playing time in the first place, he’ll now be the full-time starter in Cincinnati, with Herbert and others filling depth roles.
As the Bengals prepare to face the Ravens on “Thursday Night Football” to open Week 10, here’s how their running back room currently looks.
MORE: A full list of the deals made at the NFL trade deadline
Bengals RB depth chart
Rank | Running back |
1 | Chase Brown |
2 | Zack Moss (out) |
3 | Khalil Herbert |
4 | Trayveon Williams |
5 | Kendall Milton |
No. 1: Chase Brown
After being drafted in the fifth round in 2023, Brown wasn’t used much in his rookie season, getting 44 carries across 12 games. Coming into this season, though, Brown was expected to split time with Moss after the Bengals traded Joe Mixon away in the offseason.
Over the first stretch of the season, Brown and Moss split carries, but with Brown running for 4.6 yards per carry compared to Moss’ 3.3 mark, opportunities were trending in the 24-year-old’s direction in the first place. Then, Moss went down before Week 9 with a neck injury.
With Moss out of the picture for the time being, Cincinnati’s RB1 spot is Brown’s to lose. He made good of his first opportunity as the full-time back 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 (out)
If he was 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 reportedly sideline him through the rest of the 2024 regular season.
Moss, a former Bill and Colt, was given the first true 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
The Bengals’ newest running back, Herbert, will be stepping into the void that Moss’ injury created. He’s unlikely to earn the volume that Moss was, though, as Herbert had just eight carries across six games with the Bears this season.
The fourth-year running back did put together some 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 some pass-catching skills, so his versatility could prove valuable for Cincinnati down the stretch this season as it fights to get back in the AFC playoff picture.
MORE: An updated look at the NFL playoff picture entering Week 10
No. 4: Trayveon Williams
No Bengals running back outside of Brown and Moss have gotten a carry this season. However, the team does have two more backs on its roster.
Williams is one of them, and he’s 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 career carries.
No. 5: Kendall Milton
Milton rounds out Cincinnati’s running back unit, but he hasn’t seen any action this season. The rookie out of Georgia is just 22, and for now, he’ll be a depth piece for the Bengals with Brown and Herbert likely dominating the opportunities through the rest of the regular season.