Bengals re-signing RB Samaje Perine, per report

The Cincinnati Bengals are re-signing running back Samaje Perine. Per ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, it’s a two-year deal for Perine.

Perine, a fifth-year player in 2021, was originally a fourth-round draft pick by the Washington Football Team in 2017. He played for Oklahoma in college with fellow Bengals running back Joe Mixon.

After two seasons in Washington, Perine was waived right before the 2019 season began. The Bengals claimed Perine off of waivers a week before the season began. Perine played in six games for the Bengals in 2019 before he was waived by the club in Week 7. He was signed back onto the practice squad a day later and stayed there until the Miami Dolphins signed him after Week 16. The Dolphins waived him right after the 2020 NFL draft, and the Bengals claimed him once more a day later.

In 2020, Perine played in all 16 games for the Bengals, rushing for 301 yards and three touchdowns on 63 carries. In Week 16 against the Houston Texans, Perine rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was was a 46-yard score.

Perine, who turns 26 in September, has managed to stick around in Cincinnati for the better part of two years. A two-year deal is a nice commitment for a backup running back.

This may also impact whether or not Giovani Bernard is kept on the team. Bernard has one year left on his contract and is owed just over $4,000,000 in cash this upcoming season.

For now, the Bengals will go into the offseason with a stacked backfield.