The Bengals’ ground game has left plenty to be desired this season, and Chase Brown’s struggles have put the conversation squarely on Cincinnati’s running back room. Brown has had trouble getting through first contact, and in the Dolphins game, Samaje Perine passed him in effectiveness, averaging almost two more yards per carry. That has raised real questions about Brown’s role moving forward, especially with the Bengals’ offensive line doing a solid job opening lanes in the run game.
That is part of why Cincinnati has been linked to Jonathan Taylor, but a deal for the Colts back would likely come at a steep price. With that in mind, there are other names the Bengals could explore if they want help without paying that kind of premium.
Omarion Hampton of the Los Angeles Chargers is one possibility. Hampton has not had the kind of start many expected in Los Angeles, and he has become part of a three-man committee with Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal.
The Chargers are sitting at 0-6 and face a difficult stretch, so they could be a team willing to make moves before the deadline. Hampton’s bigger frame would give Cincinnati a different look than Brown, especially in physical situations and near the goal line.
And because he is still in his second year, there is also the chance he develops into the player many thought he could be coming out of college.
Cam Skatterbo of the New York Giants would bring a very different kind of energy. He was a cult favorite in New York last season, and his pairing with Jaxson Dart was supposed to be part of the franchise’s future.
That has not gone according to plan. Dart is injured, and Skatterbo appears to have fallen behind Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary after having no offensive touches in the Giants’ last game against the Saints.
Skatterbo runs with force, invites contact and tries to run defenders over, which makes him a natural fit for the kind of short-yardage work Cincinnati needs after Brown’s issues after contact.
Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans is the most established name on the list. He is older than the other two options and not really the bruising style that Hampton or Skatterbo bring, but he offers dependable production.
Pollard has 349 yards and one touchdown this season on one of the league’s worst offenses, and he is averaging four yards per carry, the same as Jonathan Taylor. He also would not require a major investment, since the Titans are in rough shape and may need to move veterans as they look toward a long-term rebuild.
In Other News...
Bengals Head Into Ravens Test With One Defensive Problem To Fix
A familiar divisional test is waiting for Cincinnati in Week 7, and the defensive staff already has one issue circled. Al Golden pointed to perimeter run defense as the area that needs the most work after the Bengals gave up too many explosive outside runs through the first five games, a problem that can turn a routine snap into a long gain in a hurry. Against Baltimore, that kind of leak becomes even more dangerous because the Ravens are built to stretch defenses horizontally before attacking downhill.
Derrick Henry is the obvious stress point, and Cincinnati knows the game could tilt if it lets Baltimore dictate terms on the ground. Zac Taylor has also framed the matchup through the turnover battle, which adds another layer to a game that figures to be physical and possession-heavy. For the Bengals, the challenge is not just slowing one of the leagues most punishing backs, but doing it while cleaning up a run defense issue that has shown up too often already. [Read more 🡒]
Ja'Marr Chase Finally Opened Up About That Scary Bengals Injury
Ja'Marr Chase finally gave a clearer picture of the concussion that briefly took him off the field after the Bengals game against Jacksonville, and the detail helps explain why it looked so unsettling in real time. Speaking on a podcast, Chase described it as a whiplash-style injury caused by a twisting motion, the kind of hit that can leave a player feeling fine one moment and scrambled the next.
He also walked through the leagues concussion protocol and what the recovery week was like before he got back on the field against Miami. Chase said he had to stay away from screens and leaned on reading to pass the time, a small but telling reminder of how carefully these injuries are managed once a player is in the protocol. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Need More From Erick All Jr
The Bengals tight end depth chart took a hit when Tanner Hudson went down with a season-ending pec injury, leaving Cincinnati to reshuffle a role that had become part of the passing-game mix. In the immediate aftermath, tight ends coach James Casey pointed toward Erick All Jr. as the player best positioned to absorb those snaps and keep that package moving.
All is now being asked to do more, and not just as a plug-in replacement. Colbie Young is also expected to work into some of Hudsons snaps once he finishes recovering from his own injury, giving the Bengals a layered answer as they sort out the workload. For a team trying to keep its offense balanced, how quickly those pieces fit together will matter in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]