Jim Owczarski

jowczarski@enquirer.com

The Cincinnati Bengals increased their roster size to 90 at the end of their three-day rookie mini-camp on Sunday by signing four of the 19 players they invited in for tryouts.

The team signed place kicker Jonathan Brown out of Louisville, cornerback Corey Tindal out of Marshall, linebacker Gionni Paul out of Utah and interior lineman Trip Thurman out of Florida.

Brown, who only played in two games while with the Cardinals in 2015 after an early-season oblique injury sidelined him, will join veteran Mike Nugent and newly signed free agent Zach Hocker as place kickers on the current roster.

The Bengals liked his leg strength and decided to give him an extended look.

"We decided to bring him here on a trial basis and thought enough of his ability that it required a longer look," special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said. "He has a big leg, yet he just doesn't have a whole lot of experience."

Paul is listed at 5 feet, 10 inches and 231 pounds and slipped through the cracks of the college free agent process despite being named to the all-Pac 12 first team after making 117 tackles, 13.5 for loss. He also came up with four interceptions, forced two fumbles and had four fumble recoveries.



Tindal is a 5-9, 187-pound corner who ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash in his pre-draft workouts. He was an honorable mention all-Conference USA selection for three straight seasons, finishing his career with 34 pass breakups and three interceptions.



Thurman is a 6-5, 307-pound interior lineman that has special teams experience. In his last year at Florida he was the only offensive player to start every game and played at both guard spots and center for the Gators.

Local college players Silverberry Mouhon (University of Cincinnati), Tom Lally (Mount Union), Lucas Powell (Ohio University), Keith Heitzman (Ohio) did not earn a contract, nor did Middletown’s Cody Quinn (Kentucky), Pickerington’s Eilar Hardy (Bowling Green) or Cincinnati’s Kendall Walker (Indiana State).

Undrafted Mobley looking to make impression