The Cincinnati Bengals signed free-agent veteran safety Vonn Bell to a one-year, $6 million deal on Thursday, according to his agent, David Canter. Bell spent the 2020-22 seasons with the Bengals, so he's returning to Cincinnati after spending last year with the Carolina Panthers, where he recorded 69 tackles (42 solo) and one interception in 13 starts. The 29-year-old former second-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2016 out of Ohio State has started 106 of the 122 games he's play in in his eight NFL seasons. Bell has been relevant in IDP fantasy leagues in the past, but his tackling numbers have continued to fall off since he recorded a career-high 114 combined tackles in his first year with the Bengals in 2020.
The Carolina Panthers released safety Vonn Bell on Monday, according to a league source. With the move, the Panthers will save only $1 million against the 2024 salary cap while taking on $9.9 million in dead money. Bell becomes a free agent quickly after just signing a three-year deal with the Panthers in free agency last year. The 29-year-old veteran, a former second-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2016 out of Ohio State, had 69 tackles (42 solo) and an interception in 13 starts for the Panthers last year in his lone season with the team. Bell has had IDP fantasy value in the past because of tackling ability while defending the run, but at this stage of his career he's hard to trust and is probably going to have to settle for a depth role wherever he lands.
Carolina Panthers safety Vonn Bell (quad) practiced fully on Tuesday as his team gears up for a Thursday night matchup against the Chicago Bears in Week 10. Bell has missed his team's past two games with a quad injury but will presumably make his return to the lineup in Week 10. The veteran safety has 33 total tackles and one interception in five games this season. His return will be a boost for the Carolina secondary in a winnable matchup against the Bears.
Free-agent safety Vonn Bell agreed to an undisclosed contract with the Carolina Panthers on Monday. Bell heads to the Panthers after posting a career-low 77 tackles (52 solo), one sack, four tackles for loss, four QB hits, a career-high four interceptions, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 16 regular season starts for Cincy. In the last three years with the Bengals, he had 183 solo tackles, 12 tackles for loss, nine QB hits, five interceptions, 21 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 48 games started. The 28-year-old will remain in a starting role with the Panthers and will likely be in the streaming conversation in IDP leagues in 2023.
Bengals Continue Reinforcing Defense With Vonn Bell
The Cincinnati Bengals agreed to an undisclosed three-year deal with former New Orleans Saints safety Vonn Bell on Wednesday. Along with Bell, Cincy has added defensive tackle D.J. Reader, cornerbacks Trae Waynes, Xavier Su'a-Filo and Mackensie Alexander and linebacker Josh Bynes in free agency. Bell, 25, is one of the most productive safeties in the league, so he'll certainly be an upgrade to Cincinnati's back end. The former second-round pick in 2016 had 89 tackles (66 solo), 1.5 sacks, one interception, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries (one TD) in 13 games for the Saints in 2019. He'll continue to be on the IDP map at his position.
New Orleans Saints safeties Vonn Bell (knee) and Marcus Williams (groin) weren't listed on the final injury report for the wild-card game against the Vikings. Cornerback Eli Apple (ankle) has been ruled out, though. Bell and Williams being on the field is a downgrade for the Vikings entire offense, including quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Dalvin Cook and wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Of all the teams going on the road on wild-card weekend, the Vikings might have the toughest draw having to go into the Superdome to defeat the high-flying Saints offense.
Saints Defense To Be Without Vonn Bell, Kiko Alonso
New Orleans Saints safety Vonn Bell (knee) and linebacker Kiko Alonso (quadriceps) both missed practice on Friday and have been ruled out for Week 16 against the Titans. Bell and Alonso are key contributors to the Saints solid offense, so they will surely be missed this Sunday against the Titans on the road. Their absences will be good news for wideouts A.J. Brown and Corey Davis and running back Derrick Henry. Against a Titans teams that continues to be successful on the ground with their workhorse Henry, New Orleans will have their work cut out for them. They're merely a low-upside streaming defense for the fantasy finals with both Bell and Alonso sidelined.
