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Pittsburgh signs ex-Chargers defensive lineman

PITTSBURGH – Defensive end Ricardo Mathews has agreed to a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers that will give the team needed depth next season.

Financial terms were not disclosed Thursday.

The 28-year-old Mathews had one sack and 14 tackles in 16 games with San Diego in 2015. He has four sacks in 80 career games with Indianapolis and San Diego.

The Steelers needed help along the line after nose tackle Steve McLendon signed with the New York Jets and Cam Thomas was not re-signed.

Davis to Redskins

ASHBURN, Va. – Tight end Vernon Davis says he is heading to the Washington Redskins as a free agent.

Davis tweeted Thursday: “I’M COMING HOME. Let’s do this, @Redskins.”

He also retweeted a post from his younger brother, Indianapolis Colts defensive back Vontae, that congratulated Vernon “on signing with our fam’s hometown team Redskins!”

Vernon Davis has played 10 seasons in the NFL and twice was a Pro Bowler. He spent his first 9 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, then was traded to the Denver Broncos in November and won a championship.

Davis, who turned 32 in January, had a combined 38 catches for 395 yards and no touchdowns last season. He adds depth for the Redskins, who have an oft-injured star at tight end, Jordan Reed.

Davis was born in Washington and went to college at Maryland.

QB cashes in

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – After months of trade talk and speculation, Colin Kaepernick is still on San Francisco’s roster and due a hefty payday.

The quarterback’s $11.9 million 2016 contract became guaranteed at 1 p.m. local time Thursday when the 49ers kept him on the roster.

While potential new teams for Kaepernick – Denver had been considered a serious suitor given the retirement of Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler’s departure to Houston in free agency – might ask him to restructure his current deal, Kaepernick wouldn’t have to accept anything less than the $11.9 million.

LaFell signs

CINCINNATI – The Bengals signed former New England Patriot Brandon LaFell to a one-year contract Thursday, giving them a veteran receiver to help fill out a unit that lost two regulars to free agency.

Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu left as free agents after the Bengals lost in the first round of the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Jones had 65 catches for 816 yards and four touchdowns, ranking second to A.J. Green. Sanu caught 33 passes for 394 yards, third among Bengals receivers.

Cincinnati wanted a veteran to complement Green and is likely to take a receiver high in the draft. LaFell could start right away. First-year offensive coordinator Ken Zampese likes to move his receivers around to get mismatches.

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