As we reported on Friday, the Bengals brought in former Bears TE Matt Spaeth for a visit to the team facilities, but no deal appeared to be "imminent."
Now, according to ESPNChicago's Jeff Dickerson, Spaeth has inked a deal to return to the Steelers after a brief, two-season interlude with the Bears in 2011 and 2012.
Filed to ESPNChicago: Ex-#Bears TE Matt Spaeth agrees to terms with the #Steelers, per a league source.
— Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) March 16, 2013
Spaeth was originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2007 draft and spent his first four seasons serving as a blocking tight end in the Steelers' offense. Standing tall at 6'7" and weighing in around 260 pounds, Spaeth possesses ideal size for his role, but offers little in the way of the passing game, having only caught 49 passes in 91 games played.
With only two tight ends on the Bengals' roster in 2013, bringing in Spaeth for a brief visit was a no-brainer. Although they lost out this round, don't be surprised if the team ends up bringing in a few more free agent tight ends. The team has historically preferred the presence of a quality veteran backup at the position, and Gresham's struggles and Charles' inexperience likely adds an element of urgency to the process.