To make room for Chris Crocker, who returned to the team on Thursday, the Cincinnati Bengals announced that they have released veteran tight end Donald Lee. After signing a one-year deal worth $830,000 in mid-April, Lee suffered a thigh injury in September that forced him to sit during the first three regular season games of the season.

Lee played nine games, starting four, last year for the Bengals, generating 11 receptions for 115 yards receiving. However of his 276 offensive snaps, 52.3 percent were during running downs.

His departure reduces the team's overall number of tight ends back to three, with Jermaine Gresham, rookie Orson Charles and Richard Quinn, who has been inactive all season this year.