The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed wide receiver and return specialist Brandon Tate, who was due to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.
Contract details were not disclosed on Friday, but NFL Media reported the deal was for one year.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Tate is an eighth-year NFL player in 2016. Tate has played the last five seasons for Cincinnati and in 2015 he became the franchise’s career leader in punt returns (153) and punt return yards (1,411), averaging 9.2 yards per return.
Tate, 28, also has 33 receptions with the Bengals for 469 yards and three touchdowns. He has averaged 24.3 yards on 145 kickoff returns for the Bengals, and his next kickoff return will tie him with Tremain Mack (1997-2000) for the all-time franchise lead in total returns.
“Brandon has made big plays to help us win games, and the consistency of his work ethic and his overall play is a big plus,” head coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement. “We’re excited to have him back in the mix on both offense and special teams. He’s a player we’ve been able to count on every week.”
Tate has not missed a regular-season or postseason game as a Bengal. Dating back to his 2010 season with the New England Patriots, he has an active streak of 102 consecutive games played.