Andrew Whitworth, Bengals Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

The Cincinnati Bengals made a preemptive move Saturday, as they signed offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth to a one-year extension, ensuring he will not hit free agency during the offseason.

ESPN's Field Yates first reported the extension, while Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle provided the particulars of the deal:

The 33-year-old LSU product was a second-round pick by the Bengals in 2006 and has been a starter for nearly his entire tenure with the team. He enters Week 3 of the 2015 season with 134 career starts to his credit and has played in all but two games for the Bengals since 2009.

The Monroe, Louisiana, native is a one-time Pro Bowler and is enjoying an excellent campaign thus far, according to Josh Kirkendall of Cincy Jungle:

Whitworth is a hugely important piece of Cincinnati's offense as quarterback Andy Dalton's blindside protector, but his leadership capabilities may be even more valuable.

As seen in this video courtesy of Fox 19's Jeremy Rauch, Whitworth knows how to get his teammates fired up before a game:

Although Whitworth continues to play well, it is difficult to say how many good years he has left as he approaches his 34th birthday.

The Bengals clearly still want him around over the short term, but after selecting offensive tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher in the first and second rounds of the 2015 draft, respectively, it is understandable why the team is unwilling to make a long-term investment.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.