NFL Rumors: Cincinnati Bengals Not Committed to Running Back Mixon

The Cincinnati Bengals might be having doubts about their star running back. While speaking at the NFL owner's meetings this week, executive vice president Katie Blackburn suggested running back Joe Mixon's place on the roster was not secure:

“Right now, he’s on the team.”

Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn addressed Joe Mixon at the NFL owners meetings https://t.co/A3PrDc7Q9J
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 31, 2023

“Right now, he’s on the team and we are gonna count on him until that wouldn’t be the case,” Blackburn said. “He’s done a lot of great things for the team, I think he still has a lot of production in him.”

There was briefly a warrant out for Mixon's arrest earlier this year for aggravated menacing, but it was promptly dismissed. Mixon also punched a female student while playing for the Oklahoma Sooners, costing him the entirety of the 2014 season.

If Mixon were coming off a better season, his troubles wouldn't register. Unfortunately for him, his 58.1 rushing yards per game in 2022 were his fewest since his rookie season, and he averaged a mere 3.9 yards per carry.

Mixon is one of the league's highest-paid running backs and is set to earn $10.1 million this season. The Bengals can shave just short of that against their cap by designating him a June 1st cut. Despite being a Pro Bowler in 2021 and only 26 years old, he's a prime candidate for release.