One player sticks out like a sore thumb for the Bengals to bring back if he's cut next week
The initial 53-man roster the Cincinnati Bengals put together next week won't be the same configuration of 53 players who are on the roster when Week 1 arrives. Changes always occur quickly following the roster cutdown period.Cincinnati is evaluating its own players at the moment, but other eyes within the personnel department are watching what's […]
The initial 53-man roster the Cincinnati Bengals put together next week won't be the same configuration of 53 players who are on the roster when Week 1 arrives. Changes always occur quickly following the roster cutdown period.
Cincinnati is evaluating its own players at the moment, but other eyes within the personnel department are watching what's happening around the league. Players who are likely to be cut from other teams have a chance at becoming Bengals in less than a week's time when the floodgates open.
Scouting players from other teams can be complicated. Scouting former Bengals on other teams is far easier. That's why running Samaje Perine is a name to watch during roster cuts.
Bengals are primed to bring back Samaje Perine
It was five years ago when the Bengals claimed Perine off waivers right before the 2019 regular season. While he didn't play much that year, the Bengals leaned on him often from 2020-22 as the #2 running back paired with Joe Mixon. He was an efficient, no-nonsense runner with power to spare, but was also adept in pass protection. It's why he saw the field in the most important times of the most important games during the team's playoff runs from 2021-22.
Perine left for a two-year contract with Denver Broncos in the 2023 offseason, and the right circumstances have amounted for him and the Bengals to enact a reunion next week.
The Broncos have at least three running backs ahead of Perine on their roster, including rookie fifth-round pick Audric Estime. With Perine set to enter a contract year, he's looking like the "odd man out" of the group according to Benjamin Allbright.
If Perine were to be released, the Bengals would make the most sense to pick him up. They're set to carry just three running backs on the initial 53-man roster with fourth-year back Chris Evans out for the season with a torn patellar tendon. Evans' absence now makes Trayveon Williams the lone reserve behind the 1A-1B combo of Zack Moss and Chase Brown.
Williams is going to be busy handling kickoff return duties as well. Having an extra backup who knows the system well would take some pressure off the group. That's who Perine could be.
Perine's role wouldn't be as prominent as it was two years ago when he logged a career-high 566 snaps from Week 1 all the way to the AFC Championship game, but his presence would give the coaching staff added peace of mind at a position they prefer to go four players deep.
The fourth isn't currently on the roster, or at least shouldn't be. If Perine does get cut by the Broncos, the Bengals showing interest would be anything but surprising.