Cincinnati Bengals three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson has requested to be traded from the Bengals, according to a league source. Hendrickson is due to make $15 million in 2024 and is looking for more long-term security than the Bengals have been willing to offer. It remains to be seen if the 29-year-old's wish will be granted with the first round of the 2024 NFL draft coming on Thursday evening. The former third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2017 out of Florida Atlantic has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons with the Bengals. In 17 starts in 2023, he had a career-high 43 tackles (28 solo), a career-high 17.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 25 QB hits and three forced fumbles. Even if he heads to a new team for 2024, Hendrickson should still be in play as a weekly starting defensive lineman in IDP fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (ankle) was held out of two games in 2023 due to a right-ankle injury that required significant offseason surgery. Hubbard said that he had a complete deltoid reconstruction in his ankle and tight-rope procedure to fix his ankle. He said his ankle bothered him as early as training camp, and it became more severe later in the year. Through the first nine weeks of 2023, Hubbard ranked 28th in the NFL in pass-rush win rate as an edge rusher. But when he returned to the field in Week 12 until the end of the season, he ranked 49th out of 54 players in that category. The good news is that the 28-year-old says he'll be ready for training camp this summer. However, it's fair to wonder about how effective he'll be rushing the passer in 2024 after coming off a pretty significant surgery.

From RotoBaller

Updating a previous report, free-agent S Vonn Bell (Panthers) officially signed a one-year, $6 million fully guaranteed deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday, March 15.

From TheHuddle

The Cincinnati Bengals signed free-agent veteran safety Vonn Bell to a one-year, $6 million deal on Thursday, according to his agent, David Canter. Bell spent the 2020-22 seasons with the Bengals, so he's returning to Cincinnati after spending last year with the Carolina Panthers, where he recorded 69 tackles (42 solo) and one interception in 13 starts. The 29-year-old former second-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2016 out of Ohio State has started 106 of the 122 games he's play in in his eight NFL seasons. Bell has been relevant in IDP fantasy leagues in the past, but his tackling numbers have continued to fall off since he recorded a career-high 114 combined tackles in his first year with the Bengals in 2020.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent S Vonn Bell (Panthers) agreed to a one-year, $6 million fully guaranteed deal with the Cincinnati Bengals Thursday, March 14. The Bengals are on the hook for the league minimum with the Panthers paying the rest.

From TheHuddle

The Cincinnati Bengals plan to sign free-agent SS Vonn Bell (Panthers) to a one-year contract after he was cut by the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, March 13, league sources said. Bell played for the Bengals from 2020 to 2022.

From TheHuddle

The Cincinnati Bengals agreed to terms on a two-year, $26 million deal with free-agent defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins on Wednesday, according to sources. Rankins, the former 12th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2016 out of Louisville, will join Lou Anarumo's defense in Cincinnati after recording six sacks, 37 tackles (29 solo), nine tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 15 regular-season starts in his lone season with the Houston Texans. The 29-year-old defensive tackle will pair up with B.J. Hill to improve the interior of the Bengals' defensive line in 2024. In his eight NFL seasons, Rankins has 29.5 sacks, 228 tackles (146 solo), 43 tackles for loss, 68 QB hits, one interception, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 109 games (66 starts).

From RotoBaller

Updating a previous report, free-agent DL Sheldon Rankins (Texans) agreed to a two-year, $26 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals Wednesday, March 13, according to sources.

From TheHuddle

Free-agent DT Sheldon Rankins (Texans) is close to an agreement with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to a source.

From TheHuddle

Carolina Panthers C Bradley Bozeman, S Vonn Bell and TE Hayden Hurst were officially released Wednesday, March 13.

From TheHuddle

The Carolina Panthers released safety Vonn Bell on Monday, according to a league source. With the move, the Panthers will save only $1 million against the 2024 salary cap while taking on $9.9 million in dead money. Bell becomes a free agent quickly after just signing a three-year deal with the Panthers in free agency last year. The 29-year-old veteran, a former second-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2016 out of Ohio State, had 69 tackles (42 solo) and an interception in 13 starts for the Panthers last year in his lone season with the team. Bell has had IDP fantasy value in the past because of tackling ability while defending the run, but at this stage of his career he's hard to trust and is probably going to have to settle for a depth role wherever he lands.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent safety Geno Stone is expected to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The former Baltimore Raven is set to join a division rival after leading the AFC with seven interceptions in 2023. A 2020 seventh-round pick by the Ravens, Stone has totaled 127 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, eight interceptions, and 11 passes defended over the last three seasons. The 24-year-old will try to turn the Bengals defense around after it regressed mightily from 2022 to 2023.

From RotoBaller

Carolina Panthers S Vonn Bell was released Monday, March 11.

From TheHuddle

Houston Texans impending free-agent DT Sheldon Rankins is willing to re-sign with the Texans this offseason, but the two sides are not close to a deal at this time, according to sources.

From TheHuddle

Outside of pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson, the Cincinnati Bengals didn't have much of a pass rush in 2023. Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks and 79 pressures. Sam Hubbard was second on the team in sacks at six, while B.J. Hill was second in pressures with 42. The Bengals could also lose defensive tackle DJ Reader, who tore his quadriceps muscle in December, in free agency. Cincinnati needs to find a way to get constant pressure up the middle to complement their edge rushers, and they need a disruptive complement for Hill at the three-technique position. The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that the Bengals really just need any help they can get at defensive tackle this offseason.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans DE Jerry Hughes (ankle) did not participate in practice Thursday, Jan. 18, and has been ruled out of the Divisional Round playoff game. OT George Fant (illness) did not practice and is listed as questionable. FB Andrew Beck (back) was limited during practice and is listed as questionable. DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), DT Maliek Collins (hip), DE Jonathan Greenard (ankle), LB Denzel Perryman (ribs) and DT Sheldon Rankins (ribs, shoulder) were limited during practice but are not on the injury report. CB Kris Boyd (hamstring), LB Blake Cashman (knee), OG Michael Deiter (illness) and LB Christian Harris (calf) fully participated in practice and are not on the injury report.

From TheHuddle

Houston Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), FB Andrew Beck (back), DT Jonathan Greenard (ankle), DE Jerry Hughes (ankle) and DT Sheldon Rankins (ribs, shoulder) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Jan. 17. CB Kris Boyd (hamstring), LB Blake Cashman (knee), DT Maliek Collins (hip), LB Christian Harris (calf) and LB Denzel Perryman (ribs) were limited during practice. OG Michael Deiter (illness) fully participated in practice.

From TheHuddle

Houston Texans FB Andrew Beck (back), OG Dieter Eiselen (illness), DE Jerry Hughes (ankle), OG Shaq Mason (rest), DT Sheldon Rankins (ribs, shoulder), and OT Laremy Tunsil (rest) did not practice Tuesday, Jan. 16. DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), LB Blake Cashman (knee), DT Maliek Collins (hip), DE Jonathan Greenard (ankle), WR John Metchie (foot), LB Denzel Perryman (ribs), and WR Robert Woods (hip) were limited at practice.

From TheHuddle

Houston Texans DE Jerry Hughes (ankle) did not participate in practice Thursday, Jan. 11, and has been ruled out of the Wild Card playoff game. DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), FB Andrew Beck (calf), DT Maliek Collins (hip), DE Jonathan Greenard (ankle) and DT Sheldon Rankins (shoulder) were limited during practice and are listed as questionable. OG Michael Deiter (elbow) fully participated in practice and is not on the injury report.

From TheHuddle

Houston Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), FB Andrew Beck (calf), DE Jonathan Greenard (ankle) and DE Jerry Hughes (ankle) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Jan. 10. DT Maliek Collins (hip), OG Michael Deiter (elbow) and DT Sheldon Rankins (shoulder) were limited during practice.

From TheHuddle