Bengals Likely to Cut RB Joe Mixon Unless He Accepts Pay Cut, per Report

Mixon, who’s spent his entire NFL career with Cincinnati, was charged with aggravated menacing earlier this month.

With the NFL draft less than two weeks away, teams around the league are evaluating their current rosters before making decisions on incoming rookies. For the Bengals, that means taking a hard look at one of the team’s longest-tenured players.

Joe Mixon has two years remaining on his four-year, $48 million contract, yet he’s no guarantee to remain on the roster for long. That’s because the team is reportedly negotiating a pay cut for the veteran running back, according to The Athletic‘s Paul Dehner Jr. If he doesn’t accept taking less money, the team is likely to release him.

Mixon, 26, has spent his entire career with Cincinnati after being selected by the team in the second round of the 2017 draft. He’s currently facing a charge of aggravated menacing following a road rage incident from January, when Mixon allegedly pointed a gun at a woman in a threatening manner. Charges were initially filed on Feb. 2 and dismissed the next day, though police refiled on April 7 following further investigation.

Mixon is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday. This is the latest legal issue the running back is dealing with this offseason, as police also investigated a shooting at Mixon’s house on March 7. Mixon is not considered a suspect in that case.

Last season, Mixon rushed for 814 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games for Cincinnati, with 1,255 total yards from scrimmage. His primary backup for the last three seasons, Samaje Perine, signed with the Broncos last month.