Khalil Herbert Set to Make Bengals Debut Against Ravens After Recent Trade

The Cincinnati Bengals have made a significant move to bolster their running back depth by acquiring Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears. This trade, which involved the Bengals giving up a 2025 seventh-round pick, was necessitated by the indefinite absence of veteran running back Zack Moss due to a neck injury.

Herbert, who has been with the Bears since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, saw his playing time diminish this season as the Bears favored D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. Despite this, Herbert has a proven track record, having averaged 4.8 yards per carry and caught 45 passes for two touchdowns during his time in Chicago.

With the Bengals facing a short week and a Thursday night game against the Baltimore Ravens, Herbert is expected to suit up and potentially see playing time. Despite the quick turnaround, Herbert has been working diligently to learn the Bengals’ offensive game plan. Quarterback Joe Burrow has expressed his willingness to help Herbert adjust, noting that he can assist his new teammate during the game if needed.

In the Bengals’ depth chart, Herbert will slot in behind Chase Brown and Trayveon Williams. While Brown is likely to remain the primary running back, Herbert could see significant opportunities as he becomes more comfortable with the offense. Head coach Zac Taylor has left the door open for Herbert to play this week, stating, “We’ll see where it goes… I wouldn’t take that off the table”.

The addition of Herbert is crucial for the Bengals, who are looking to improve their record after a 1-4 start. The team is currently 4-5 and faces a critical matchup against the Ravens, a team they lost to in Week 5 despite a strong performance from Joe Burrow.