Bengals workout Wallace Gilberry and more free agents

The Bengals were certainly busy on Wednesday as they worked out players at a variety of positions. We already shared the news of tryouts with kickers as well as a tryout for fullback Marcel Reece. Now, ESPN’s Adam Caplan has shared more workout news, which includes one familiar face.

Caplan is reporting that defensive tackle Jordan Hill, tight end Justice Cunningham and former Bengal, defensive end Wallace Gilberry, were among the players who the team worked out on Wednesday.

Additionally, Pro Football Talk reports that the Bengals also worked out rookie undrafted tight end Ryan Malleck. Malleck spent the offseason with the Giants but was cut in the first wave of roster cuts in early September. At Virginia Tech, Malleck had 62 receptions for 658 yards and 4 touchdowns in three seasons from 2012-2015.

Gilberry left the Bengals in free agency this offseason and signed a 1-year deal with the Lions worth $1.25 million. Gilberry played in only four regular-season games with the Lions, during which he recorded 4 tackles. An abdominal injury ended up landing Gilberry on Injured Reserve and the Lions opted to release him with an injury settlement in early October. He’s been a free agent ever since. Gilberry has also played for the Chiefs and Buccaneers during his nine season NFL career and spent 2012-2015 with the Bengals. During his time in Cincinnati, Gilberry played 62 games and recorded 68 tackles, 17.5 sacks and had 5 passes defended.

The Bengals’ defensive line has been severely underperforming, so it’s possible the team would look to bring Gilberry in to give the line a boost and offer some rotational help. Gilberry did best when he was used in a limited role, similar to what Margus Hunt has done for Cincinnati this year.

Hill has spent three years in the NFL, all with the Seahawks. From 2013-2015 he played in 27 games with 1 start and recorded 50 tackles, 7.0 sacks, 5 passes defended and 1 interception. Hill was put on Injured Reserve back in September during final roster cuts, but the Seahawks ended up waiving him with an injury settlement. Injuries limited him severely in Seattle as he played in just 27 of a possible 48 games and only two of eight in the playoffs. Hill, the 87th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Penn State, was most effective as an inside rusher on passing downs. That’s a role the Bengals have been experimenting with as Will Clarke filled that role for the Bengals last week. If healthy, Hill could be a good asset for the Bengals to have on the roster.

Cunningham also has spent three seasons in the NFL, but is classified as a first year player after playing in only three games during that span. He has spent time with the Colts and Rams after being drafted out of South Carolina with the 254th pick, the final pick, of the 2013 NFL Draft. In one game played for the Colts during his rookie season, Cunningham had one catch for 4 yards. He is practice squad eligible.

The Bengals have a vacant spot on their practice squad, as on Wednesday, Matt Lengel was signed by the Patriots to their 53-man roster.