The Bengals have signed C Ted Karras to a 1 year/$5M contract extension.
The new deal will keep him in Cincinnati through the 2026 season. This is the second year in a row that the two sides have agreed on a 1 year extension.
Karras originally joined the Bengals as a free agent in 2022. He has appeared in 50 games as a Bengal, starting in all of them.
Since coming to Cincinnati, he has not only stabilized the C position, but he has also been one of the team’s biggest leaders. He was a Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination, and going into this season, has been named a team captain.
Some have wondered about how much longer the 32 year old plans to play in the NFL. Mixed in with these discussions has been the idea that Matt Lee might be his eventual replacement. But that thought will have to be put on hold.
With Karras now extended for another season, it seems as though he’ll still be around for a while. For the Bengals, this is a good thing, given his consistent play and leadership in the room. As well, his strong connection with Joe Burrow cannot be understated.
In other news, the team has also waived TE Tanner McLachlan and OT Caleb Etienne off IR.
McLachlan was a 2024 6th round pick of the Bengals. He was a solid prospect, despite being an overager. The Bengals kept him on the roster last season, but he was rarely active on game days.
After not getting much of a shot to prove himself as a rookie, McLachlan quickly fell further down the depth chart when Cam Grandy emerged as a good blocking TE, and when Noah Fant was signed later on in the offseason.
He originally made his way to IR, once the initial roster was announced, but it looks like the injury isn’t something that will keep him out for the duration of the season. The two sides reached an injury settlement, and McLachlan is free to sign elsewhere.
Etienne, meanwhile, is a rookie undrafted free agent, originally signed by the Bengals following the draft.
He was a very raw prospect from a technical standpoint, but his physical traits made him an attractive developmental option. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury during the preseason and ended up on IR.
Like with McLachlan, it seems as though Etienne’s injury isn’t severe enough to keep him out for the season. The two sides have reached an injury settlement and he will get the chance to latch on with another team.
