ALAMEDA — The Raiders defense filled a big hole Wednesday with the reported acquisition of unrestricted free agent safety Reggie Nelson.

After visiting the Raiders facility on Tuesday and leaving with no news of a deal, both ESPN and NFL Network reported that the former Cincinnati Bengal agreed to terms on a two-year contract. The Raiders made no confirmations of player acquisitions Wednesday,

Nelson will replace retiring veteran and nine-time Pro Bowler Charles Woodson, who manned the position for the last three seasons. It was an unusual signing for general manager Reggie McKenzie in that Nelson turns 33 in September and the Raiders have been zeroing in on players considered to be in their prime for the last two years.

On the other hand, like Woodson when he was brought aboard in 2013, Nelson appears to have a lot left in the tank. He had a career-high eight interceptions with 115 yards in returns for the Bengals in 2015 and has 14 of his 30 career interceptions over the last three seasons.

Over the same three-year span, Woodson had 10 interceptions.

Considered more of a true center fielder than the multifaceted Woodson, Nelson (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) will likely be deployed as a single deep safety as preferred by coach Jack Del Rio and defensive coordinator, with an emphasis on not letting receivers beat the defense over the top.

Another thing Nelson has in common with Woodson _ neither player was pursued heavily in free agency because of their age. Interest in Nelson was relatively light despite being the NFL co-leader in interceptions with eight (tied with Chiefs rookie Marcus Peters) and his first selection to the Pro Bowl.

Nelson would y be joined by Nate Allen at strong safety, with free agent acquisition Sean Smith and 2015 waiver claim David Amerson the front-runners at cornerback, joined by TJ Carrie and DJ Hayden. Carrie has the ability to play corner or safety.

In last year’s wild card playoff loss by the Bengals against the Steelers, Nelson left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury _ a teammate stepped on his foot on a blitz _ and did not return.

There is a history between Nelson and Del Rio, and it wasn’t always a smooth one. Nelson was a first-round draft pick out of Florida (No. 21 overall) with Jacksonville in 2007 when Del Rio was the head coach.

Nelson had five interceptions in a strong rookie season, but by the end of his third season, had been benched by Del Rio, criticized publicly after a loss and was eventually dealt to Cincinnati for another cornerback and a conditional draft pick which became a seventh-round selection.

Nelson becomes the third potential starter to join the Raiders since free agency began, joining Smith and outside linebacker Bruce Irvin.

Also possibly returning is free agent outside linebacker Aldon Smith, who was signed Monday and will at minimum miss the first nine games of the season under the NFL substance abuse policy and first must be cleared by the league.