Geno Atkins

Rapoport adds that Atkins is expected to be cleared from his torn rotator cuff by July 1. His checkup is scheduled with Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper, who initially performed the surgery on Atkins; the 33-year-old veteran doesn't have any reported visits planned with the team's coaching staff or front office. Re-signing with the Bengals is still the best chance Atkins has at playing in a sub-package role at this stage of his career.

Atkins would need to accept a lower salary deal, but the Bengals haven’t ruled out bringing him back. Playing through a torn labrum, Atkins had his snaps limited when healthy last year and hasn’t generated much interest coming off an injury-shortened 2020. Re-signing with the Bengals could offer Atkins a chance to rehab his value in a sub-package role.

It's the end of an era in Cincinnati, where Atkins -- the final holdover from the Marvin Lewis era -- played for 11 seasons. The Bengals continue to clear cap space, prompting questions about what they might do with said space. Atkins averaged 6.8 sacks per season during his time with the Bengals, and will surely get short-term offers from teams in need of interior defensive linemen. Atkins turns 33 on March 28.   

Atkins is due $24.6 million in base salary through 2022 but Cincinnati can logically move on from the 33-year-old this offseason, freeing up $12.1 million in cap space with a post-June 1 designation. Atkins had surgery for a torn rotator cuff in January but is expected to be at full strength to open the regular season. Even so, his current status will likely halt any trade discussions that may have happened otherwise.