Zach

Kerr

Kerr will provide the Bengals with depth on the defensive line with Larry Ogunjobi (foot) done for the postseason. Kerr is 31 years old and is a rotational lineman. He should help the Bengals fill snaps along the line.

The 30-year-old was cut by the Panthers last week. Kerr is a pure rotational lineman who will soak up some snaps along the Niners’ defensive line. He has 9.5 sacks in 88 career games.

The move saves the team $1.3 million in cap space. Kerr, signed to a two-year deal last offseason, totaled two sacks and 32 tackles as a rotational piece across 390 (37%) defensive snaps. He’ll land elsewhere on a one-year deal as a viable veteran lineman.

The 29-year-old pickup would normally be viewed as a depth piece, but the losses of Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe in the open market could force Kerr into an important role early. He totaled 19 tackles in Arizona last year, soaking up 328 defensive snaps across 12 appearances off their bench.

It’s the first we’ve heard from Kerr since he was initially released by the Broncos in August. He compiled 33 tackles and 1.5 sacks over 394 defensive snaps with Denver last year. Detroit’s clearly in the market for help in their front-seven with Da’shawn Hand (elbow) and Mike Daniels (foot) on the mend.

Kerr returned to Denver on a two-year deal this offseason but didn’t make it out of camp. Clearly the Broncos saw him as expendable due in large part to the development of third-year edge rusher DeMarcus Walker. The sixth-year D lineman compiled 33 tackles and 1.5 sacks over 394 snaps last season.

Kerr played 394 snaps on the low side of a rotation with Derek Wolfe last year. The Broncos like Kerr’s fit in new coach Vic Fangio’s scheme, but his path to starts are blocked. Kerr is one of the few players to survive Denver’s defensive overhaul.

A 2014 UDFA, Kerr has been a rotational lineman the past three seasons. He’s a bit of a ‘tweener without a position. Kerr played 317 sub-par snaps in 2016.

Kerr wasn’t tendered as a restricted free agent with the Colts. He’ll compete for a sub-package role after playing 317 snaps last year. The Broncos also added DT Domata Peko to their defensive line mix.

The injury is expected to sideline him a couple weeks and could keep him out Week 1. It is another blow to a defensive line which will be without Billy Winn (knee) all year and has two more linemen, Derek Wolfe (ankle sprain) and Jared Crick (back), in a race to get back before the season opener. In better news, NT Kyle Peko (foot) is off the PUP.