Cincinnati Bengals re-sign DT Brandon Thompson

The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Brandon Thompson to a one-year contract Friday.

Thompson, 26, is a fifth-year player who has contributed to Bengals playoff teams in each of his previous four seasons. The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Thompson was a third-round draft choice in 2012 out of Clemson.

Thompson has played in 39 games, recording 79 career regular-season tackles and three sacks. He played in nine games last season but suffered a knee injury (ACL tear) in the regular-season finale and missed the team's playoff game. Thompson had eight tackles and a half-sack in 2015.

The Bengals hope Thompson can be medically cleared to resume play near midseason this year.

"This is all a part of keeping us together," said defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, whose unit led the Bengals last season to a No. 2 NFL rank in fewest points allowed (17.4 per game). "Brandon has helped us get where we are and he will keep getting better. He's been raised in our system, and it's another case of being glad to bring back a guy who has shown he's very coachable to do things the right way."