Ex-Steelers Safety Kyle Dugger Signs With Bengals, Agent Confirms Safety Kyle Dugger has agreed to a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who shared the news with ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday. The move places Dugger in the AFC North for the 2026 season, marking his return to the league after a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals, seeking depth at the safety position following the departure of Geno Stone to the Buffalo Bills, are expected to benefit from Dugger’s experience and versatility. Dugger’s journey to the Bengals began with a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who acquired him from the New England Patriots during the 2025 trade deadline. The Steelers gave up a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to secure Dugger, along with a 2026 seventh-round pick, in exchange for the former second-rounder. The trade was driven by the Steelers’ need for defensive stability, as starting strong safety DeShon Elliott was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Dugger’s arrival provided immediate impact, as he played nearly 100% of the defensive snaps in his debut game with the Steelers, helping the team defeat the Indianapolis Colts. Dugger’s performance continued to impress throughout the 2025 season. In his third start, he recorded a pick-six, showcasing his ability to make game-changing plays. However, his workload was adjusted in the final weeks of the regular season. During the Week 17 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Dugger played approximately half of the defensive snaps, splitting time with veteran Chuck Clark. This adjustment allowed the Steelers to manage their depth while preparing for the playoffs. Despite the reduced snaps in the final games, Dugger’s contributions were significant.#new_england_patriots #pittsburgh_steelers #drew_rosenhaus #cincinnati_bengals #kyle_dugger
San Francisco 49ers Extend Kicker Eddy Piñeiro Through 2029 The San Francisco 49ers finalized a four-year contract extension with kicker Eddy Piñeiro on Saturday, securing his future with the team through the 2029 season. The deal, valued at $17 million with $10 million in guaranteed money, was confirmed by Piñeiro’s agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, who shared the details with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The agreement ensures Piñeiro, who joined the 49ers in Week 2 of the 2025 season, remains under contract and avoids entering the open market during the early free agent window. General manager John Lynch emphasized retaining Piñeiro as a top priority during the NFL combine last month. Lynch praised Piñeiro’s performance, stating, “Eddy was obviously fantastic. I don’t know if a guy could have come in and done any better.” The 49ers have relied on Piñeiro for consistency at a position that struggled after Robbie Gould left following the 2022 season. Piñeiro became a key addition in 2025 after the team waived kicker Jake Moody following a poor performance in the season opener against Seattle. Piñeiro’s 2025 season was marked by exceptional accuracy, as he converted 28 of 29 field goals, including six kicks from 50 yards or more. His only miss came in a December game against Indianapolis, where a 64-yard attempt hit the crossbar and fell short. His 96.6% field goal conversion rate ranked as the second-best mark in franchise history for kickers with at least 25 attempts. Since 2000, Piñeiro’s 89.7% success rate stands third among all kickers with 50 or more attempts. The 49ers also re-signed long snapper Jon Weeks on Tuesday, leaving punter Thomas Morstead as the remaining specialist among their three specialists.#san_francisco_49ers #eddy_pieiro #drew_rosenhaus #robert_bailey #adam_schefter
