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Cincinnati Bengals have reached out to running back Joe Mixon regarding an extension.

Mixon has ‘shown a lot of ability,’ says Duke Tobin, director of player personnel, adding the team has ‘visited' with him.

“He’s in a year that he can be extended, and he is a guy that we visited with, ” Tobin told 700 WLW's Lance McAlister via Pro Football Talk.

Mixon, 23, is in the final season of four-year, $5.4M rookie contract with the organization.

Photo Courtesy: Sam Greene/The Enquirer

“We’ll go through those discussions and see if there is a fit or a match for a long-term contract with him, obviously a guy we value quite a bit. The great thing about Joe is he goes about it the right way . . . He’s the type of guy you want to lock up to a long-term deal.”

Around the league, Mixon is widely-regarded as an up-and-coming talent. He'll likely be in line for a massive contract after Carolina Panthers signed running back Christian McCaffrey to a league record 4-year, $64M contract over the offseason.

He has hinted that he's prepared to holdout if the team doesn't sign him to an extension this offseason.

Mixon has 515 carries for 2,305 yards, 17 touchdowns without a fumble in the last two seasons.

Bengals' starting running back told Cincinnati Enquirer ahead of the offseason, “I want to be a Bengal for life.”