Some moves just make too much sense: Bengals seize golden opportunity to reunite with former fan favorite

The Cincinnati Bengals trimmed their roster from 90 players to 53, and for the most part, there were no major surprises on Tuesday. The team recognized and rewarded players who performed well during the preseason by securing them spots on the final roster.

While the Bengals had a relatively straightforward cut day, other teams across the league experienced a lot of changes. Cut day often brings unexpected decisions, and this year was no exception, with teams in both conferences making surprising choices about which players to let go.

Some of the players released could be valuable additions to the Bengals, particularly those with previous experience in Cincinnati. One notable cut on Tuesday was veteran running back Samaje Perine, who no longer aligned with Sean Payton’s plans in Denver.

The Broncos attempted to trade Perine, along with veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick, but were unable to find any interested teams. As a result, Perine is now free to sign with any team in the league, including his former team in Ohio.

Bengals must jump at the chance to reunite with Samaje Perine

The Bengals are in a transitional phase at the running back position, as Joe Mixon has moved on to the Houston Texans. After Tuesday’s roster cuts, the Bengals have three running backs on their depth chart: Zach Moss, Chase Brown, and Trayveon Williams.

Perine wouldn’t displace anyone or disrupt the dynamic in the running back room, but he would serve as a valuable complementary piece, adding depth to an otherwise inexperienced group. Zach Moss has yet to play in a regular-season game with this offense, Chase Brown has only one year of experience, mostly without Joe Burrow, and Trayveon Williams has logged just 36 carries over the past three seasons.

Although Perine isn’t a bell-cow back, he still offers considerable value. Beyond his familiarity with the playbook and his ability to mentor the rest of the running back room, he remains an above-average pass blocker for his position.

Moss has never been a prolific pass-catching back, and while Brown shows promise, he’s still unproven at the NFL level. Perine would immediately become the most reliable option for passing downs due to his pass-blocking skills and receiving ability.

Additionally, this running back room is just one injury away from being in serious trouble. If there’s any area of the roster that could benefit from extra reinforcements, it’s the running back position. And if the Bengals were to add someone, it should be a player with direct experience in Zac Taylor’s offense.