Rodney Anderson has chance to emerge as primary backup RB for Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals rookie RB Rodney Anderson will look to take advantage of his opportunity to factor into the team’s rushing attack over the final two preseason games.

Former Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson isn’t short on talent. In fact, he was arguably the most naturally talented runner in the entire 2019 NFL draft class. He fell all the way to the sixth round because of an injury history that likely left him off most teams draft boards, but when healthy, he has legitimate starter’s ability.

He won’t have the chance to become the Cincinnati Bengals’ starting running back, assuming Joe Mixon — another former Sooner — stays healthy and continues on his trajectory toward superstardom. But he will have an opportunity to become Mixon’s primary backup this preseason if he shows out over the next two weeks.

Fellow rookie Trayveon Williams (Texas A&M), whom the Bengals selected ahead of Anderson in the sixth round, has been pegged as the likely backup to Mixon since the start of training camp. Williams is expected to miss the rest of the preseason with a foot injury, opening the door for Anderson to prove he deserves a higher spot on the depth chart.

Don’t forget about veteran Giovani Bernard. He’ll be the change-of-pace back and if Mixon does suffer any kind of extended absence during the season, it’ll be Bernard who is relied on more than either rookie. But Bernard has never been a between-the-tackles banger, something Anderson is more than equipped to provide.

Anderson was limited to just two games in 2018 because of a right knee injury. He broke his leg in 2015 and fractured vertebrae in his back in 2016.

His only healthy season came in 2017 when he ran for 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns (6.2 yards per carry). He was off to a hot start in 2018 when he had 119 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries.

If (and it’s a big if) Anderson can finally stay healthy, the Bengals will have one of the steals of the 2019 draft.