Free agent safety Vonn Bell has agreed to return to the Cincinnati Bengals, his agent David Canter announced Thursday. Canter posted on X: “El capitán Is returning to the JUNGLE. Let’s be great. Congratulations to @Vonn on agreeing to terms to return to @Bengals” Bell will receive a minimum, one-year contract from the Bengals, with whom the 29-year-old played with from 2020 through 2022.
Bell was just released by the Carolina Panthers, who are responsible for paying his $6 million guaranteed salary in 2024. He signed a three-year, $22 million contract with the Panthers last March. Bell totaled 69 combined tackles, 42 solo takedowns, two passes defensed and an interception in 13 starts in 2023.
Bell, a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, spent his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. The eight-year veteran started 48 games for the Bengals from 2020-23, during which he was a team captain. He averaged 96 combined tackles, 61 solo tackles, seven passes defensed, 2.7 forced fumbles, 1.7 interceptions, 1.3 fumble recoveries and 0.5 sack over his three seasons with the Bengals, missing just two of 50 starting opportunities during that span and setting a career best with 114 tackles in his first season in Cincinnati.
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