The Bengals have signed DT Mike Pennel to the practice squad, the team announced.
Pennel is a veteran of over a decade, having entered the league in 2014 as an undrafted free agent signing of the Green Bay Packers. After a few years in Green Bay, he also spent time with the Jets, Falcons, Bears, and had two stints with the Chiefs. In both stints in Kansas City, he came away with a Super Bowl.
Pennel doesn’t bring much as a pass rusher, having only put up 5 sacks in his career. However, the big NT is very solid against the run, and should come in and help the Bengals at an area of weakness.
For now, he will sit on the practice squad. However, the expectation is that he will be signed to the active roster relatively soon. Until that happens, he is eligible to be elevated from the practice squad a maximum of three times. When on the field, he should be in some sort of rotation with TJ Slaton and McKinnley Jackson in a run stopping role.
In other news, the Bengals lost DT Eric Gregory on waivers a few days ago. They were hoping to get him back on the practice squad, but he was claimed by the New England Patriots.
Gregory had signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent following this year’s draft. He turned in a solid preseason and showed the potential to become a solid rotational player along the interior. Gregory ended up making the initial 53 man roster as a result, but soon after, space was needed when the team signed Dalton Risner, so Gregory was put on waivers.
With Pennel now taking that spot on the practice squad, it currently sits full, with 16 members. But the jumbling will continue in the coming weeks, as we often see with the practice squad.
Thumbnail Image Via: Jeffrey Beall (CC)