Bengals sign offensive tackle Eric Winston

CINCINNATI (AP) The Bengals signed Eric Winston on Tuesday, giving them another candidate to play right tackle with Andre Smith sidelined for the rest of the

CINCINNATI (AP) The Bengals signed Eric Winston on Tuesday, giving them another candidate to play right tackle with Andre Smith sidelined for the rest of the season with an injury.

Winston, a nine-year veteran, started at right tackle for five seasons in Houston and one each in Kansas City and Arizona. He played in the preseason with Seattle and was released. Winston is head of the NFL Players Association.

Smith was put in the injured reserve list last week with a torn left triceps. The Bengals used Marshall Newhouse and Clint Boling at the position during a 14-13 win at Tampa Bay on Sunday that left Cincinnati (8-3-1) in control of the AFC North. Newhouse started the game, Boling replaced him, and Newhouse returned and finished the game at right tackle.

The Bengals also waived offensive tackle Jamon Meredith, who signed with the Bengals last week and was inactive on Sunday. Linebacker J.K. Schaffer was waived off the injured list after recovering from concussions. Schaffer, a Cincinnati native, got hurt during the preseason.

Cincinnati is in position to win its second straight division title, leading by more than a game. The Bengals host Pittsburgh (7-5) on Sunday, play at Cleveland (7-5), host Denver (9-3) in a Monday night game, then finish the regular season at Pittsburgh.

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