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Bengals trading Pro Bowl RB Joe Mixon to Texans after reports he would be released
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- Bengals trading Pro Bowl RB Joe Mixon to Texans after reports he would be released
The Cincinnati Bengals shook up their running back room on the first days of free agency .
The franchise is shipping Pro Bowler Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans , a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose terms of the deal. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was the first to report.
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On Monday night, NFL Media reported Mixon would be released. ESPN's Adam Schefter added that the Bengals will sign Zack Moss to a two-year, $8 million deal. Free agency deals are not official until Wednesday, which marks the start of the new league year.
Mixon heads to Houston, where coach DeMeco Ryans said after the season that there would be emphasis on improving the run game.
"I think the running game will be significant for us to improve," Ryans said. "As you go through the game, especially in postseason, teams that win (have) to be able to run the football and sustain it. We'll see where all the guys and all the positions on our team are. We'll look at the roster – me and Nick (Caserio) – and see where we have to improve. Our job is to improve our roster as best as we can."
Mixon spent seven seasons with the Bengals after they picked him up in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft . He had four 1,000-yard seasons, including last year when he racked up 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2021 after having a 1,205-yard rushing season with 13 touchdowns.
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A year ago, there was a shooting near Mixon's home . His sister and her boyfriend were charged with multiple crimes including felonious assault, tampering with evidence and obstructing justice. The running back was not charged in the incident.
Moss will be entering his fifth year in the league after being drafted in the third round in 2020 by the Buffalo Bills . He was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 for Nyheim Hines . While All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor sat out the beginning of last season with an injury, Moss had two 100-yard games. In a Week 5 win over the Tennessee Titans , he had 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bengals trade Pro Bowl RB Joe Mixon to Texans, sign Zack Moss
