Josh Jacobs’s season-long fall from grace does not exclude him from experiencing a comeback in Cincinnati.
The running back for the Las Vegas Raiders finished 2022 as one of the finest at his profession with 1,653 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns on just 340 attempts (4.9 yards per attempt), and 400 catching yards.
However, he lost speed in 2023, averaging just 3.5 yards per attempt, partly because of a quad injury he had in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings.
By cutting Joe Mixon, their starting running back at the moment, the Bengals may save $6 million. Then, rather than relying on a rookie to step in and produce immediately, they may attempt to sign an experienced running back to replace him.
For these reasons, the Bengals and the Green Bay Packers are considered contenders for Jacobs, according to Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus. The analyst stated the following:
In this exercise, the Bengals ostensibly trade running back Joe Mixon for Jacobs, who is younger at the position. Over the years, Cincinnati has given Mixon targets and carries, and Jacobs is capable of carrying the same workload as a workhorse back.
Before Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts signed an agreement, Green Bay is said to have been among the clubs contacting him. A.J. Dillon is a free agent, and Aaron Jones is still quite productive even after missing a lot of time in 2023.
Jacobs could get back on track by playing with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and (maybe) Tee Higgins, which would be extremely beneficial. The Bengals will be difficult to stop on offense if they can produce even half of what the running back did a few years ago.
