The Bengals released or terminated the contracts of several familiar names Sunday morning to get down to the NFL regular-season limit of 53 players and brought back a quarterback they had let go less than a week ago.

        The team signed quarterback Scott Covington to a two-year contract. Covington, a third-year NFL player, was with the Bengals through most of training camp and had been released on Aug. 27. He was brought back because second-stringer Scott Mitchell will be out four to eight weeks with a high ankle sprain suffered at the end of Thursday night's preseason finale loss to Indianapolis. Third-string quarterback Akili Smith is recovering from tendinitis in his throwing shoulder and should return to practice today.

        The Bengals terminated the contracts of former Pro Bowl kickoff returner and safety Tremain Mack, former starting fullback Clif Groce and defensive ends Jevon Langford and Kevin Henry. They are all now free agents able to sign with any team in the league.

        Among eight players waived was punter Daniel Pope, who set a franchise record with 94 punts in 2000. This move means the Bengals will open the season with rookie Nick Harris as their punter. Harris, a fourth-round draft pick by Denver, the first punter taken in the draft from the University of California, was claimed off waivers by the Bengals Wednesday. Harris punted four times for a 40.5-yard average against Indianapolis.

        Also waived were defensive tackle Jeff Boyle, linebackers Chris Edmonds and Rashad Harris, wide receiver Malcolm Johnson, tight end Kirk McMullen, defensive end Corey Moore (picked up two weeks ago off waivers from Buffalo) and center Roger Roesler.

        All of the players waived except Moore and Pope are eligible to re-sign Monday to the team's practice squad.

        The Bengals also on Sunday placed three players on the Injured Reserve list -- tight end Sean Brewer (groin injury), wide receiver Damon Griffin (hamstring) and linebacker Armegis Spearman (pectoral).

        Spearman, who started 11 games last season, was hurt against the Colts and will have surgery Tuesday. Brewer, the team's third-round draft pick, practiced only a few times and missed all of the preseason games with the groin injury. Veterans Tony McGee, Marco Battaglia and longsnapper Brad St. Louis now return as the team's trio of tight ends.

        By terminating Mack's contract, the Bengals will now go with second-year running back Curtis Keaton as their kickoff returner.

        Pope's release also leaves the job of holder open. He had held for Neil Rackers last season and throughout the entire preseason. Mitchell was the backup holder.

Mack, Pope among Bengals cuts NFL won't give in to locked-out refs

Bowden: Boone is 'our manager'
Fan's-eye view of the Reds
Griffey + Dunn = 100 homers?
Pickering (6-5, 290) makes big impression
Pirates 7, Reds 0
Pirates pitcher ends long wait
Process of elimination nearly over
Reds box, runs
Hite could give XU a top 10 class
Two leave XU women's team
Warren Harding 55, Moeller 0
Amelia 27, Meadowdale 6
Beechwood 30, Lloyd 12
CovCath 34, Dixie 21
Elder 26, Cleveland Glenville 6
Holmes 45, H.C. 15
Newport wins on Hail Mary
Prep Football Insider Woodward has bodies, 2-0 start
Cincinnati football schedule
Northern Kentucky football schedule
UC's biggest game ever?
Auto racing insider
Baseball Insider
Best and worst of week in sports
Channel 19 provides more coverage
Cincinnati high school results
Cincinnati soccer highlights
Crowded leaderboard at Kroger Senior Classic
Cyclones add 2 ECHL vets
DAUGHERTY: Walk a mile in Almonte's shoes
Five Questions with Ray Edwards, Cyclones coach
High School Insider
Kroger Classic start washed out
Kroger Senior Classic scores
Kroger Senior Classic tee times
Louisville 36, Kentucky 10
Louisville ponders UK challenge
MIAMI - MICHIGAN
Miami aims slingshot at Michigan
Michigan 31, Miami 13
Muskingum 22, Mount St. Joe's 0
N.Ky. high school results
Ohio-bred wins Bassinet Stakes
SULLIVAN: Miami freshman enters school of hard knocks
Thomas More 24, Anderson 21
Trainer seeks 4th Bassinet win

• Return to Bengals front page...