We’re 14 days (two weeks!) away from the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. Cincinnati just had its first of three preseason game last night, but before the preseason wraps, we’re profiling every member of the Bengals’ 90-man roster. Check out previous player profiles here.

The next player of the series is the oldest non-quarterback on the roster.

Ted Karras Player Profile

Age: 33
Year: 11th
Position: Center
College: Illinois
Jersey Number: 64

Ted Karras was originally selected No. 221 overall in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Prior to the NFL, He spent five years at Illinois (2011-15, starting four of them at right guard. He’s also the great nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer Alex Karras and four other relatives in his family played in college or the NFL.

Karras collected two Super Bowl rings with New England in his first three years with the club, but he only started five total games during those seasons. He wasn’t a full-time starter until 2019 when he took over the center position. He did the same for Miami in 2020 before going back to the Patriots for a season at left guard. Cincinnati signed him to play center in 2022 and hasn’t looked back since. He’s started every game since.

Karras’ off field legacy has only grown as well with The Cincy Hat, his foundation based around an original hat design that began benefitting the Village of Merici back in his hometown of Indianapolis and is now helping out students and adults dealing with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Cincinnati. His work was further highlighted as the Bengals’ 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award nominee and winner of the Charity Challenge fan vote. He’s been a team captain every year since joining the club as well.

Contract details

Karras is set to play on his one-year, $5,000,000 extension he signed last year. His base salary is $3,400,000, has $500,000 in per game roster bonuses to earn, and has already earned $100,000 as a workout bonus. His total cash figure for the season is $4,000,000. When adding on his signing bonus proration of $500,000, his salary cap hit for the year is $4,500,000.

Roster outlook

The Bengals have counted on Karras to be their rock for the last four years. He’ll go down as one of the better overall free agent signings in team history as he’s been just as reliable on the field as he’s been inspiring off of it.

What next year holds is up in the air. Karras is 33 and on the last year of his deal. Connor Lew was drafted in the fourth round to be his heir apparent.

This is likely the last year Karras is on the team. Cincinnati best make it count.

Roster odds: 100%