The Bengals today signed DE Carlos Dunlap to a five-year extension of his contract. The deal was previously set to expire after the 2013 season, but now it will run through 2018.
“One of our key offseason goals was to continue signing and extending our key players, and the signing of Carlos is another positive step,” said head coach Marvin Lewis. “Over his three seasons with us, Carlos has continued to progress and develop. He has demonstrated the ability to be productive as a three-down player, and we are glad to have him committed to be a part of our future.”
Dunlap (6-6, 280; Florida) is a fourth-year NFL player in 2013. Last season he played in 14 games and had 55 tackles, including 6.0 sacks, and he tied for the team lead in both forced fumbles (four) and fumble recoveries (three). His total of fumbles forced and recovered (seven) led the team by three.
He had major key plays last season in three Bengals victories — Sept. 23 at Washington, Dec. 2 at San Diego and Dec. 30 vs. Baltimore. For the San Diego game, he was named by the NFL as AFC Defensive Player of the Week. In the 20-13 victory over the Chargers, he had two sacks, forcing a fumble on each, and he recovered one of the fumbles late in the game to help preserve the win. He totaled five tackles and was credited by coaches with four additional QB pressures.
Over three seasons with the Bengals, Dunlap has 20.0 sacks in 38 games, along with 10 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. Last season he had his first career interception, for a 14-yard TD vs. Baltimore, and in 2011 he scored on a 35-yard fumble return vs. Indianapolis.
