Bengals renew contract with experienced wide receiver; offensive tackle said to be on a visit.
The Cincinnati Bengals have secured the return of wide receiver Trenton Irwin, a crucial depth piece for their offense, by signing him to a one-year contract extension through the 2024 season, as announced on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Bengals remain in pursuit of a right tackle to bolster their offensive line. Trent Brown, formerly of the New England Patriots, visited Cincinnati on Monday and was scheduled to meet with team officials on Tuesday. With experience at both left and right tackle, Brown was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 and has since played for New England (2018, 2021-23) and the Las Vegas Raiders (2019-2020), amassing 100 career games with 93 starts over nine NFL seasons.
The Bengals’ need at right tackle arose after Jonah Williams departed in free agency, signing with the Arizona Cardinals last week. Mekhi Becton, a former offensive tackle for the New York Jets, also visited Cincinnati late last week as part of their search for a solution.
Irwin, now entering his fifth year, initially joined the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted college free agent in 2019 but was waived during final roster cuts. He later joined the Bengals’ practice squad and has since moved between the roster and practice squad. However, Irwin emerged as a significant contributor in 2023, earning a spot on the 53-man roster for the first time and serving as the team’s fourth wide receiver.
In the 2023 season, Irwin played in all 16 games, making five starts while Tee Higgins dealt with injuries, and totaled 316 yards on 25 catches with one touchdown. Throughout his tenure with the Bengals, Irwin has appeared in 34 regular-season games, recording 43 receptions for 586 yards and five touchdowns.
As the Bengals potentially face the departure of Tyler Boyd in free agency, Irwin is poised to continue competing for more playing time in the upcoming 2024 season.
