There's understandable excitement around the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. They are one of the best teams in the NFL and have a legit shot at winning a Super Bowl.

In the midst of this has been a bit of a dark cloud.

Running back Joe Mixon has had to deal with multiple legal issues, both of which involved firearms. Also, there's been speculation about the Bengals possibly moving on as they look to save money for major deals coming up for guys like quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.

Those thoughts are understandable with the events that have taken place. However, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler dropped a little nugget on Friday. 

"He is a big salaried running back, a veteran in his late 20s. Bengals could save $10 million on the salary cap if they move on but there's not a huge sense of momentum that that's gonna happen right now," said Fowler. "They were looking for running back help this offseason either free agency or the draft. They got in the fifth round with running back Chase Brown. Now they have a couple of young guys they like that they can complement with Mixon."

Mixon's 58.1 yards a game in 2022 was a career low and his 3.9 yards per rush ranks as his third worst. However, Mixon has racked up 5,378 yards and 40 touchdowns in six seasons so he's lived up to being a second-round pick. 

All the hoopla around Mixon certainly has to have taken a toll on him in some way, even if it just a little bit. But it hasn't stopped his preparation. 

“I think we’ve got a great relationship with Joe (Mixon),” said Taylor on Tuesday. “I’ve appreciated how he’s come into the building every single day and just worked hard. That’s a big reason why we gave him the contract we gave him, and his presence with the team. He’s a guy I enjoy being around, and we’re counting on him.”

A once gloomy situation may be seeing a bit of sunshine. 

Feature image via Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports