Lucas Patrick, a versatile interior offensive lineman who has started Opening Day for three different teams, hopes to win a competition to make it a fourth after he signed with the Bengals Friday.

The Bengals are looking to upgrade guard, and they think the 6-3, 313-pound Patrick offers enough strength, flexibility and experience to put him in the mix. He turns 32 during the first week of his ninth training camp and has started 58 games in the decade at both guards and center for the Packers, Bears and Saints.

"Come in and compete," Patrick said of his role. "See how things shake out. I know there's still a draft and they're probably filling out some more spots. But I'm just fired up to be a Bengal and work with the staff and the players who are here. There are some pretty elite players who will be exciting to be teammates with from what I've seen from a far."

Patrick flashed his versatility in one month during the first of his two-year stint in Chicago. It began with him alternating with right guard Teven Jenkins in the first two weeks of the 2022 season.

In week three and four, Patrick started in front of Jenkins, the Bears' second-round pick in 2021, before moving to left guard in week five when Cody Whitehair got hurt. Two weeks later, Patrick started at center.

"There's probably been a few games in my career where I've played different positions," Patrick said. "That's something I pride myself on. Being ready when my number is called."

Patrick hit it off with offensive line coach Scott Peters during Friday's Paycor Stadium tour that included a visit with head coach Zac Taylor and another one with offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher.

"He's a smart, tough, veteran player with starting experience at all three interior positions," said Peters after lunching with Patrick. "I think he's a great addition and I'm excited to have him in our room."

It's the first time they had met, and Patrick left believing Peters' technique learned from his own days as a player can boost his career.

"The one thing that really excites me is we talked about building our toolboxes," Patrick said. "Everyone thinks it's simple. It's just moving a guy or staying in front of a guy. But there are a lot of small nuances I think he can help a veteran like myself to enhance my game.

"Just his background with players who fit with my build. Philosophically, he sees leverage points and hand usage. I think that's awesome because the first contact at the line of scrimmage is really important."

Patrick, an undrafted free agent out of Duke, was drawn to campus out of Brentwood, Tennessee, by the mix of academics and sports. A history major whose focus was the post-Enlightenment period in Europe, Patrick has an excellent read on the Burrow Era in Cincinnati.

After all, Patrick played the first five seasons of his career with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. In that last season of 2021, Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams had to go overtime to beat quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins here at Paycor.

"(Rodgers is) an elite quarterback and No. 9 seems to be in that air, if not, then something special in his own right," Patrick said. "Obviously, Ja'Marr and Tee are the best one-two in the league right now and you could argue even beyond that. That's exciting. Just watching film this morning of Chase Brown. He looks to be an exceptional back. He's pretty shifty.

"And the guys up front. I've got a lot of respect for (center) Ted Karras, his career, and how he's played. (Left tackle) Orlando Brown is just a proven winner. (Right tackle Amarius) Mims is a special young talent. This is an exciting offense to join."