Bengals Depth Chart Preview: Running back room follows Chase Brown’s indisputable lead
The Cincinnati Bengals have almost the same exact running back room as they had last year with the addition of two undrafted rookies.
It’s the absolute dead period of the offseason, and the Cincinnati Bengals are resting up before training camp. As they begin their elongated time away from Paycor Stadium, we’ll be going through the 90-man roster, position-by-position, breaking down the depth chart. Check out the previous positions here.
Next up in our series are the players lining up next to Joe Burrow in the backfield.
Bengals Running Back Depth Chart
Starter: Chase Brown
Backups: Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks, Gary Brightwell, Kendall Milton, Jamal Haynes, Kentrell Bullock
The Starter
Chase Brown is entering his third season as Cincinnati’s starting running back. He first emerged as the lead back in the middle of 2024 when former starter Zack Moss suffered an injury that has sidelined him since. He’s up to 505 career carries in 45 games played, and has averaged 13.97 carries per game the last two years. He crossed the 1,000-yard mark last year for the first time in a single season. Drafted in the fifth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Brown is entering a contract year but is very much still the top guy in the Bengals’ backfield.
The Backup
Samaje Perine is nine years into his NFL career and most of them have been spent in Cincy. He rejoined the club last year on a minimal two-year deal which expires after this season. Perine complements Brown very well with more density and power to his game and rushing style, sporting a 4.5 yards per carry average in a Bengals uniform. He’s also quite adept in the pass game both as a receiver and blocker for Burrow.
Story to watch
With both Brown and Perine entering contract years, are we going to see more of Tahj Brooks developing for a larger role in the future? Brooks was the team’s sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and barely played as a rookie last year. The top two staying healthy for almost the entire season contributed to that, but there’s also immense trust they’ve developed in the offense.
Brooks doesn’t have that yet, but he has the best chance out of the rest of the reserves to acquire it this year. Gary Brightwell, Kendall Milton, and rookie undrafted free agents Jamal Haynes and Kentrell Bullock are all fighting for one spot that may not be available if the 53-man roster only goes with three.
Projected Players on the 53-man roster
Starter: Joe Burrow
Backups: Samaje Perine, Tahj Brooks