Josh Tupou

Tupou in 2021 returns to Bengals after opting out of '20 due to COVID-19 ... Originally a 2017 college free agent signee of the Bengals ... Massive 345-pound space-eater on interior of defensive line who worked his way into regular D-line rotation in first three seasons ... Played in all 16 games in 2019, and saw action on 43.6 percent of defensive snaps (446 of 1070) ... Totaled 27 tackles and FF in '19, and was considered major component of Bengals' run defense ... Played six games in 2018 before pectoral injury landed him on Reserve/Injured ... Spent time on both roster and practice squad as rookie in 2017, playing in one game.

Tupou in 2021 returns to Bengals after opting out of '20 due to COVID-19 ... Originally a 2017 college free agent signee of the Bengals ... Massive 345-pound space-eater on interior of defensive line who worked his way into regular D-line rotation in first three seasons ... Played in all 16 games in 2019, and saw action on 43.6 percent of defensive snaps (446 of 1070) ... Totaled 27 tackles and FF in '19, and was considered major component of Bengals' run defense ... Played six games in 2018 before pectoral injury landed him on Reserve/Injured ... Spent time on both roster and practice squad as rookie in 2017, playing in one game.

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.

2020 highlights: Did not play ... Placed on Reserve/Opt-Out list on Aug. 3.

Previous seasons: 2017—Played in one game ... Was on Cincinnati's practice squad for Game 1-8, 11 and 12 ... Inactive for Games 10, 13-16 (coaches' decisions) ... Played 19 snaps on defense on Nov. 12 at Tennessee (no statistics). 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. 2019—Played in all 16 games (seven starts) ... Saw action on 43.6 percent (446 of 1070) of defensive snaps on the season ... Totaled 27 tackles and a FF ... Recorded season-high 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 ... Had just one tackle in season finale vs. Cleveland, but was part of defensive effort that held Browns RB Nick Chubb, who entered the game as the NFL's leading rusher (5.0 yards per carry, 99.6 yards per game), to just a 3.2-yard average and 41 total rushing yards.

College: Played four seasons (2012-14 and '16) at Colorado, with a redshirt year in '15 ... Played in 46 career games, with 45 starts ... Started all 14 games as a 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.

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 because he was not on a 53-player roster, a Reserve/Injured list or a Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list for the required minimum of six games.