The Cincinnati Bengals released veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins on Friday.

He joined the Bengals in free agency last March on a two-year, $24.5 million contract and played in seven games (all starts). He missed 10 games in 2024 due to illness and injury.

The move saves the Bengals $9.6 million against the salary cap next season while taking a $2 million dead cap hit.

Rankins, 30, has 30.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and one interception in 116 games (73 starts) with the New Orleans Saints (2016-20), New York Jets (2021-22), Houston Texans (2023) and Bengals.

The Saints drafted Rankins with the No. 12 overall pick in 2016.