Josh Tupou

At 6-3, 345 pounds, Tupou has been a reliable run-stuffing DT since joining the Bengals as a college free agent in 2017 ... Played in 11 regular-season games (six starts) in 2022, seeing action on 26.3 percent of defensive snaps, and had 19 tackles (two for losses) ... Missed five games mid-season with a calf injury, but returned to final five regular-season contests and all three postseason games ... Added six tackles the postseason, including three in AFC Championship at Kansas City ... Played in seven total games with no starts in first two pro seasons, but has since played in 49 contests (23 starts), including postseason ... Spent rookie season (2017) on back end of roster/practice squad, pectoral injury limited him to six games in '18, then carved out a regular role on defense in '19 and played in every game ... Opted out of 2020 season due to COVID-19.

Pro Career:

• At 6-3, 345 pounds, Tupou has been a reliable run-stuffing DT since joining the Bengals as a college free agent in 2017 ... Played in 11 regular-season games (six starts) in 2022, seeing action on 26.3 percent of defensive snaps, and had 19 tackles (two for losses) ... Missed five games mid-season with a calf injury, but returned to final five regular-season contests and all three postseason games ... Added six tackles the postseason, including three in AFC Championship at Kansas City ... Played in seven total games with no starts in first two pro seasons, but has since played in 49 contests (23 starts), including postseason ... Spent rookie season (2017) on back end of roster/practice squad, pectoral injury limited him to six games in '18, then carved out a regular role on defense in '19 and played in every game ... Opted out of 2020 season due to COVID-19.

Career Transactions:

• Signed with Cincinnati as college free agent on 5-5-17 ... Waived by Bengals on 9-2-17 ... Signed to Bengals practice squad on 9-3-17 ... Signed to Bengals roster on 11-11-17 ... Waived by Bengals on 11-21-17 ... Signed to Bengals practice squad on 11-22-17 ... Signed to Bengals roster on 12-6-17 ... Received tender offer from Bengals on 3-8-19 ... Bengals contract expired on 3-13-19; became exclusive rights player ... Re-signed with Bengals as exclusive rights player on 3-21-19 ... Received tender offer from Bengals on 3-16-20 ... Bengals contract expired on 3-18-20; became restricted free agent ... Re-signed with Bengals as restricted free agent on 5-1-20 ... Placed on Reserve/Opt-Out list on 8-3-20 (contract tolled) ... Bengals contract expired on 3-16-22; became unrestricted free agent ... Re-signed with Bengals as unrestricted free agent on 3-17-22.

2022 Season:

• Played in 11 regular-season games for Cincinnati, with six starts (three as second DT, three at NT) ... Started five consecutive games (Game 2-6) ... Inactive for five games (Games 7-11) due to a left calf injury ... Totaled 19 tackles (eight solos), with two sacks and two TFLs ... Had three solo tackles on Sept. 29 vs. Miami, including a 10-yard sack of QB Tua Tagovailoa in the second quarter ... Sacked Patriots QB Mac Jones for loss of 10 yards in the third quarter on Dec. 24 at New England ... Saw action on 62 defensive snaps in three postseason games, recording six tackles.

Previous Seasons:

• 2021—Played in 17 regular-season games (nine starts) and two postseason games (one start) for Cincinnati ... Saw action on 36.5 percent (410 of 1124) defensive snaps during regular season, and had 12 tackles ... Helped Cincinnati rank fifth leaguewide in rushing defense (102.5 yards per game) during the regular season ... Posted three tackles on Oct. 10 vs. Green Bay ... Suffered right knee injury in season finale at Cleveland, causing him to miss Wild Card Playoff vs. Las Vegas ... Started as a second DT in Divisional Playoff at Tennessee, but knee injury limited him to just five snaps (no statistics) ... Played 21 defensive snaps in Super Bowl LVI vs. L.A. Rams (no stats).
• 2020—Did not play ... Placed on Reserve/Opt-Out list on Aug. 3.
• 2019—Played in all 16 games (seven starts) ... Totaled 27 tackles and a FF ... Recorded seven tackles on Nov. 17 at Oakland, and forced a fumble (Bengals recovered) on Raiders RB Josh Jacobs inside the red zone in the first quarter.
• 2018—Played in six games, and totaled nine tackles ... Inactive Games 1-2, 5 and 7 ... Had a season-high five tackles on Nov. 11 vs. New Orleans ... Placed on Reserved/Injured list on Nov. 22 with pectoral injury.
• 2017—Played in one game as a rookie ... Was on Cincinnati's practice squad for Games 1-8, 11 and 12 ... Inactive for Games 10, 13-16 (coaches' decisions) ... Made NFL debut on Nov. 12 at Tennessee (no statistics).

College:

• Played four seasons (2012-14 and '16) at University of Colorado, with redshirt year in '15 ... Played 46 career games, with 45 starts ... Started all 14 games as fifth-year senior in 2016 and helped Colorado field one of college football's top defenses (ranked No. 13 nationally, giving up just 323.8 yards per game) ... Totaled 49 tackles, including seven TFLs, with 1.5 sacks.

High School/Personal:

• Hometown is Long Beach, Calif. (Greater Los Angeles) ... Graduated from Buena Park High School, where as a senior he totaled 78 tackles, with five sacks and four FFs ... Played both G and DT at Buena Park ... Communications major at Colorado ... Uncle, Viliami Maumau, played at Colorado from 1994-97 and in the NFL with the Denver Broncos ... Last name is pronounced "TEW-po."

NOTE ABOUT NFL EXPERIENCE: Tupou did not earn an accrued year of experience toward NFL free agency in 2020.