The Bengals added a veteran linebacker to their roster last month when they signed Karlos Dansby after Dansby was released by the Browns.
With Dansby on board, they appear to feel they have enough depth at the position to part ways with another veteran. Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reports that the Bengals will release A.J. Hawk.
Hawk signed with the Bengals before last season and made 11 starts while appearing in all 16 regular season games and the team’s playoff loss to the Steelers. He had 25 tackles and a sack in those outings. Hawk spent the first nine years of his career with the Packers, who drafted him fifth overall in 2006.
Hawk was due to count $1.4 million against the salary cap in 2016 and the Bengals wouldn’t take on any dead money as a result of parting ways with the linebacker.
The Bengals won’t have Vontaze Burfict for the first three games of the season, leaving Dansby to play with Rey Maualuga, Paul Dawson and Vincent Rey until he’s eligible to return to the lineup.