Former Bengals RB Samaje Perine: ‘Nothing but love’ for Cincinnati

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Former Bengals running back Samaje Perine is headed to Denver, according to Mike Garafolo with the NFL Network.

Perine on Tuesday came to terms with the Broncos on a two-year, $7.5 million deal with $1 million in added incentives, Garafolo reports.

The 27-year-old tweeted a message of thanks to Cincinnati Tuesday evening.

The 27-year-old became a free agent after the 2022 NFL season.

Perine is the third player to leave Cincinnati since the legal tampering period began prior to free agency’s official start on Wednesday. Reports surfaced Monday that safeties Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell will also depart.

The Bengals re-signed linebacker Germaine Pratt to a new deal on Tuesday.

Washington drafted Perine out of Oklahoma in 2017. The Bengals picked him up two years later.

Perine played in 16 games each of the last three years, including three starts.

Perine saw action on 40.5 percent of offensive snaps in the 2022 regular season, totaling 394 yards on 95 carries and two rushing touchdowns. He tacked on 287 yards and another four touchdowns through the air.

He also played 458 total special teams snaps over the last two years.

Perine’s stiff-arms [warning: graphic] and physical running style endeared him to fans after Joe Mixon went down with a concussion. He was productive in third-down packages as well.

“He’s been unbelievable for us,” Joe Burrow said of Perine last December. “Even when there’s nothing, he gets three. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s everything.”

Perine’s departure leaves the Bengals with Mixon, Trayveon Williams, Chris Evans and Elijah Holyfield.

The Bengals will likely add to the position in free agency or the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

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