The Bengals today re-signed DT Brandon Thompson, returning him to the team from the unrestricted free agent ranks. Thompson (6-2, 305; Clemson) is a fifth-year player who has contributed to Bengals playoff teams in each of his previous four seasons. He signed a one-year contract.
Thompson has played in 39 Bengals games, including seven starts in the 2013 division championship run as a replacement for the injured Geno Atkins. He also started the Wild Card playoff game that season and led the line in tackles (eight) in that game. He has 79 career regular-
season tackles, with 3.0 sacks. He played in nine games last season, but suffered a knee injury (ACL tear) in the regular season finale and missed the team's playoff game. It's forecast that he can be medically cleared to resume play at or just before midseason of this year.
Thompson was a third-round Bengals draft choice in 2012.
"This is all a part of keeping us together," said defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, whose unit led the Bengals last season to a No. 2 NFL rank in fewest points allowed (17.4 per game). "Brandon has helped us get where we are and he will keep getting better. He's been raised in our system, and it's another case of being glad to bring back a guy who has shown he's very coachable to do things the right way."
