The Bengals today signed free agent C Reggie Stephens, a second-year NFL player. Stephens (6-3, 325; Iowa State) was with the Bengals in the 2011 preseason, playing in all four games, and was waived on Sept. 4. He was signed on Oct. 26 to Chicago’s practice squad, where he remained until season’s end. He was signed to the Bears’ offseason roster on Jan. 2 of this year and was waived by Chicago on May 15. He was a seventh-round Cincinnati draft choice in 2010 and was on the Bengals roster all that season, but did not play (inactive for Games 1-16).
The Bengals today acquired G Matt Murphy on waivers from Indianapolis. Murphy (6-4, 307; Nevada-Las Vegas) is classified as a first-year NFL player. He was signed on Sept. 28 of last year to the Colts practice squad, where he remained until season’s end. He was signed to the Colts’ offseason roster on Jan. 4 of this year. He entered the NFL as a college free agent with Atlanta on July 27 of last year and was waived by the Falcons at the end of 2011 preseason.
