Bengals sign starting center Karras to extension

CINCINNATI — The Bengals have signed starting center Ted Karras to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Karras’ new deal puts him at an average of $6.6 million in salary over the next two seasons.

Before the recent deal, Karras, 31, was entering the final season of a three-year contract worth $18 million. In his first two seasons with the Bengals, he has started all 36 games the team has played (including postseason).

Speaking to reporters on the final day of the team’s mandatory minicamp, Karras said he was thankful to the organization to tack another year onto his current contract and was glad to get the deal done before training camp.

“Anytime you go into a year where it’s the last year of your contract, it’s always a heightened sense of anxiety,” Karras said. “I’m not afraid of that either. I’ve done that many times in my career, but that’s why I’m so thankful to this organization for offering me a great deal.”

Karras, who is entering his ninth year in the NFL, has been elected a team captain in each of his first two seasons in Cincinnati and is also the team’s lead NFL Players Association representative.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor praised the pride Karras takes in being a center and all the communication aspects involved in that, including with quarterback Joe Burrow.

“He’s a guy you can trust,” Taylor said. “He’s about all the right things and still has good years in front of him.”

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