CINCINNATI — The Bengals added some depth to their secondary Thursday.
Free agent security Kyle Dugger signed a one-year contract with the Bengals, the crew introduced.
Dugger joins a bunch that options new signee Bryan Prepare dinner and Jordan Battle because the crew’s main safeties.
Prepare dinner was certainly one of Cincinnati’s large additions in free company. He signed a three-year contract price $40.25 million. Battle, who’s coming into his fourth yr within the league, is taken into account to be one of many crew’s ascending defenders coming into 2026.
The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Dugger from the New England Patriots finally season’s commerce deadline, giving up a 2026 sixth-round choose to land the 2020 second-rounder together with a 2026 seventh-round choose.
The Steelers made that transfer as beginning robust security DeShon Elliott went on season-ending injured reserve. Dugger had a right away impression, taking part in practically 100% of defensive snaps in his first recreation in Pittsburgh because the Steelers beat the Indianapolis Colts. Dugger then had a pick-six in his third begin, and he had one other interception within the Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Although he performed practically each defensive snap in his first eight video games with the Steelers, he was in for less than about half of the defensive snaps within the Week 18 finale and the playoff recreation because the Steelers cut up Dugger’s reps with fellow veteran Chuck Clark.
Dugger, 30, recorded 59 tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit and two interceptions with the Steelers and Patriots final season.
Since being chosen out of Lenoir-Rhyne College within the NFL draft by the Patriots, Dugger has recorded 11 whole interceptions in six seasons, together with three pick-sixes. He has additionally pressured three fumbles and had a fumble restoration for a landing.
Dugger is not the one addition made to the secondary by the Bengals on Thursday. Cincinnati additionally signed free agent cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor, the crew introduced.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.
