Samaje Perine, a six-year veteran running back, and the Denver Broncos have agreed to terms on a contract. Perine most recently suited up for the Cincinnati Bengals for the past three years.
Take 2 with money and his name spelled right this time: #Broncos agree to terms with former #Bengals RB Samaje Perine on a two-year, $7.5 million deal with another $1 million in incentives, source says.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2023
Samaje Perine, Denver Broncos, Agree to Contract
Perine was a well-traveled journeyman running back for the first few years of his career. After breaking records and dominating at Oklahoma – which included an NCAA-record 427-yard game – the (then) Washington Redskins selected him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
In Washington, Perine had a decent rookie campaign, rushing for a career mark of 603 yards and a touchdown. He was then rewarded by being relegated after the team acquired Adrian Peterson and Perine managed just eight carries in five games. Prior to the 2019 season, Perine was waived and claimed by the Bengals, who subsequently waived him and signed him to their practice squad.
Mid-way through the 2019 season, the Miami Dolphins plucked Perine off of the Bengals practice squad where he managed just five carries for 16 yards. The Dolphins waived Perine in April 2020 when the Bengals claimed him back.
In Cincinnati for a second time, Perine has had a career resurgence as the backup to Joe Mixon. In 2020, Perine ran the ball 63 times for 301 yards and three touchdowns. He was integral in wins over the Titans and Texans, two of the team’s four wins that year.
In 2021, Perine continued his decent play. He ran for 246 yards and a touchdown while hauling in 27 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. Perine was the catalyst in the Bengals win in the AFC Championship with his 41-yard touchdown reception to cut the Chiefs lead to 21-10.
This past year, totaled 394 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns across 16 games (2 starts). In the receiving game, Perine had a career-high 38 receptions and 287 yards, scoring on four occasions.
Main Image: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY
