CINCINNATI — The need to bolster the running back room just became more urgent for the Bengals.
Chase Brown pulled his hamstring Thursday during full pads practice and had to be helped from the field. Zac Taylor did not put a timeline on his recovery or return to action but hinted that it’s an injury that will have to be addressed on a week by week basis.
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET and while the Bengals almost never acquire talent at the deadline, this year presents a unique opportunity to add to a roster that is already built to get to and win a Super Bowl.
The last time the Bengals added a significant player midseason via trade was when they acquired wide receiver Charlie Joiner from the Houston Oilers on Nov. 1, 1972. The Bengals narrowly missed the playoffs that season but won the division the next season.
That’s how rare it is for the Bengals to make an in-season trade for a player. The Bengals rarely even trade their own, aside from the likes of Carlos Dunlap in 2020 and Carson Palmer in 2011, both of which were done to catapult unhappy players from the organization.
But consider:
But there are names like Rhamondre Stevenson or Zeke Elliott in New England and Dalvin Cook with the Jets. Tight end could be an area to be addressed as well and again New England could be a trade partner as Hunter Henry or Mike Gesicki could be had for the right price.
The Broncos could be another and the name that comes up is the obvious in Samaje Perine, who has a history with the Bengals and is highly, highly respected by the current coaching staff.
The Broncos are on the edge of the wild card bubble but certainly don’t figure to be catching Kansas City in the division. How Denver views the remainder of their season and how Sean Payton sees it will go a long way in determining how motivated they would be to move a player that could help the Bengals.
Perine has just 20 carries for 98 yards and 26 catches for 215 yards in the Denver offense in seven games. The price would not be very high for the Bengals.
There’s Corey Dillon in 2004. Ochocinco in 2011. The Patriots and Bengals have a good trade history, given the existing relationship between Mike Brown and Katie Blackburn and Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
If the Patriots get handled in Miami by the high-powered Dolphins this Sunday, the Patriots could very well be motivated to make a deal and look ahead to planning the roster next season.
Those are just a few possibilities. Again, the Bengals, led by director of player personnel Duke Tobin, have to make the determination that a trade can significantly improve their chances for advancing to the Super Bowl. If enough voices in the building agree, then maybe we could see some history on Tuesday.
Zac Taylor indicated after Friday’s practice that starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is a go for Sunday in Santa Clara. Brown came out in the third quarter of the win over Seattle on Oct. 15 with a groin injury and did not return. He was a full participant on Friday after being limited on Wednesday and Thursday.
Read what you will into this but the San Francisco quarterback who got his bell rung by Minnesota linebacker Jordan Hicks on Monday night on a QB keeper was back at practice Thursday and a full participant on Friday in Santa Clara. He’s listed as questionable for the game. If he can’t go, then it’s Sam Darnold starting for the Niners, the first quarterback Zac Taylor beat in his rookie season as Bengals head coach in 2019. That day, the Bengals kept Darnold and the Jets out of the end zone in a 22-6 win at Paycor Stadium.
