Amarius Mims Requested New Cleats After Breaking Pairs
The 350-pound Bengals offensive tackle has gone through two pairs of cleats during the current NFL season.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Football
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Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Amarius Mims has publicly appealed to footwear brands after breaking two pairs of cleats this season. The 23-year-old athlete suffered a failure in his equipment during a 31-24 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Why it matters
Mims requires equipment that can handle the extreme physical force generated by his 6-foot-8, 350-pound frame during NFL play. Finding durable gear is a priority for the offensive lineman as he continues his professional career in Cincinnati.
Amarius Mims stands at 6-foot-8 and weighs 350 pounds, a frame that has contributed to him breaking two pairs of cleats this year. He has allowed only two pressures across the entire 2026 season.
The players
Amarius Mims
He is a 23-year-old offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals who was the 18th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Cincinnati Bengals
The professional football team currently holds a 3-2 record for the 2026 season.
Miami Dolphins
The professional football team hosted the Bengals during a game on October 11, 2026.
The details
During the recent game in Miami, a brand-new pair of cleats tore open and exposed Mims' big toe while he was on the field. Despite the equipment failure, he maintained high performance levels by allowing zero pressures across 32 pass-blocking opportunities.
Timeline
Amarius Mims was selected 18th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-24 on October 11, 2026.
The Big Picture
The performance limitations of NFL-standardized performance footwear highlighted by Mims' experience illustrate the extreme physical demands placed on modern offensive linemen. This incident marks a departure from standard equipment expectations by highlighting the limitations of current footwear technology for players of Mims' size.
Mims' ability to allow zero pressures during the game against Miami ensures his continued high-level utility in the Bengals' offensive rotation. His ongoing status as a reliable pass-blocker remains intact despite the technical issues with his footwear.
The takeaway
Players of Mims' size place immense stress on their gear, which can lead to frequent equipment malfunctions during high-intensity professional games. Athletes in similar positions often have to coordinate closely with equipment managers to find customized footwear that can withstand their physical profile.
Further reading
For more on the team's performance, see the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
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Should major footwear brands do more to ensure their products withstand extreme professional athletic use?
