S Vonn Bell returning to Bengals

Safety Vonn Bell is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals, agent David Canter announced Thursday.

NFL Network reported Bell will play on a one-year, guaranteed $6 million contract. The Bengals will pay the league minimum portion, with the rest paid by the Carolina Panthers, who released him on Monday to free salary cap space.

Selected by the Saints in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, he spent his first four seasons with the Saints, then signed as a free agent with the Bengals before the 2020 season and was a team captain. The Panthers lured him in free agency last March with a three-year, $22.5 million deal.

Bell, 29, appeared in 13 games (all starts) with the Panthers in 2023. He had 69 tackles and one interception.

In 122 career games (106 starts), Bell has recorded 705 tackles, 27 quarterback hits, 9.5 sacks, seven interceptions, 37 passes broken up, 15 forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries.