Who Should I Start? Zack Moss or Braelon Allen

Tuesday, July 29, 5:31 PM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (neck), who broke his neck in three places last year, is on the Non-Football Injury list and continues to work on his conditioning on side fields during training camp, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. "I've pretty much been a couch potato since November," Moss said. The 27-year-old briefly considered retirement in the offseason but ultimately decided to return in 2025 on a reduced salary. Chase Brown emerged as one of the best backs in the NFL last year after Moss' injury, and the team drafted Tahj Brooks out of Texas in the sixth round this year. He's currently out of football shape due to a lack of activity last year following his injury, which has allowed Brooks, Samaje Perine and Gary Brightwell more reps as they compete for the RB2 role. It sounds like Moss could be buried on the depth chart if he's even ready for the start of the 2025 season.

Tuesday, July 29, 11:29 AM

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (knee) is battling knee soreness and will be re-evaluated before the team's practice on Thursday, according to Andy Vasquez of NJ Advance Media. The second-year back served as the backup to Breece Hall last season, rushing for 334 yards and two touchdowns on 92 carries as a rookie. While Allen is still projected to be behind Hall on the Jets' RB depth chart, early reports have indicated that New York plans for a more committee-style backfield in 2025. At 235 lbs., Allen could be the primary goal-line and short-yardage back for the Jets this season, putting him in a position to potentially lead the backfield in rushing touchdowns. While this injury doesn't seem particularly serious, it's worth monitoring to see how much practice time it causes Allen to miss. With a new coaching staff in place for the Jets this year, every preseason rep will be valuable for Allen to build trust.