Who is Vonn Bell? Released by Carolina, safety returns to Cincinnati

Safety Vonn Bell has returned to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway reported Bell's return Thursday. Bell, who was released earlier this week by the Carolina Panthers, signed with the team almost exactly one year ago. He had played the previous three seasons for the Bengals, and was a team captain and leader of the Cincinnati secondary.

On Friday, the Bengals reintroduced Bell, and celebrated his return via social media:

Bell, who turned 29 last December, started all 13 games in which he played last season for Carolina. He had one interception.

The Bengals announced earlier this week that they released safety Nick Scott, who played one season in Cincinnati.

More to know about Bell's reunion with the Bengals:

The Panthers will pay the majority of Bell's 2024 salary.

Bell left Cincinnati for a three-year, $22.5 million deal from the Panthers, with $13 million guaranteed.

His 2024 base salary of $6 million is believed to be part of that guaranteed money, meaning the Panthers would pay the difference if the Bengals sign Bell to a one-year deal worth the league minimum.

How do the Panthers justify it? Spotrac estimated Bell's 2024 cap hit to be $10.94 million.

Bell was drafted the same year as Sheldon Rankins, DJ Reader and Tyler Boyd.

The 2016 NFL draft included several players involved in recent Bengals-related headlines regarding free agency.

Rankins, a first-rounder selected 12th overall, agreed to a two-year deal with the Bengals.

Boyd, a second-rounder taken 55th overall, reportedly is considering a return to Pittsburgh.

Bell was selected by the New Orleans Saints, six picks after Boyd late in the second round.

Reader, a fifth-rounder, is an unrestricted free agent who has played for the Bengals the past four seasons. He's reportedly headed to the Detroit Lions on a two-year deal.

Bell was fined more than $10K in 2021 for taunting then-Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton.

Bell was fined for taunting the longtime Bengals starting quarterback during Cincinnati's Week 2 loss in Chicago.

Dalton left the game during the second quarter with a bone bruise.

He was replaced by Justin Fields, who had attempted just two passes in the regular season when he entered the game.

Bell had four interceptions in 2022 for the Bengals after entering that season with just two in his first six NFL seasons.

Bell's fourth INT of that season, which moved him into a tie at the time for the NFL lead, came when he picked off Browns receiver Amari Cooper's first NFL pass attempt on a failed trick play during a Monday Night Football loss in Cleveland.

Bell has played in 12 postseason games during his career, with his only playoff interception coming in the Bengals' 27-24 win against the Chiefs in Kansas City in the AFC championship in January 2022.

Bell also had a memorable moment in the Bengals-Steelers rivalry.

In December 2020, Bell responded to then-Pittsburgh receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster dancing on the Bengals' logo before the Monday night game in Cincinnati with a huge hit on Smith-Schuster near the end of the first quarter that forced a fumble and led to Cincinnati's first touchdown.

The final score was 27-17, and it was one of Cincinnati's biggest wins against Pittsburgh of the past few years.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who is Vonn Bell? Cut by Carolina, safety returns to Cincinnati