Nickerson jumps from practice squad
LB takes roster spot of TE Eifert, who is on injured reserve.
The Cincinnati Bengals on Monday promoted linebacker Hardy Nickerson from the practice squad to fill the roster opening created by placing tight end Tyler Eifert on injured reserve last week.
Nickerson played in the first three games before being waived Sept. 28, when linebacker Vontaze Burfict returned from suspension.
An undrafted college free agent from Illinois, Nicker- son played mostly on special teams. The Bengals re-signed him to the practice squad Sept. 29.
To fill Nickerson’s spot on the practice squad, the Bengals signed tight end Scott Orndoff, a rookie who spent parts of the preseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions.
Pittsburgh waived Orndoff on Aug. 4, prior to its first preseason game. He signed with Detroit on Aug. 21 and played in the Lions’ final two preseason games with one reception for 4 yards.
Also Monday, the team announced it had signed vet- eran long snapper Clark Harris to a one-year contract extension through 2018. A nine-year veteran, Harris has played in 131 of a possible 134 games since joining the Bengals in 2009.
Harris has never had an unplayable snap in his Bengals career, extending the streak to 1,192 (630 punts, 562 place-kicks). He also has 28 special teams tackles, including two this season.
Prior to Monday, Harris had been in the final season of a five-year contract.