Former New England Patriots and former Cincinnati Bengals will cross paths on Sunday.
Between the active rosters, practice squads and reserve lists, six players in the current fold have been members of
both organizations during their NFL careers.
Here’s a glance through those ties ahead of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Paycor Stadium.
CINCINNATI
Mike Gesicki, tight end — Placed on injured reserve in October due to a pectoral injury, Gesicki has been a Bengal since 2024. The 30-year-old tight end was re-signed in March after catching 65 passes for 665 yards and two touchdowns during his inaugural campaign in the AFC North. He spent the prior season in Foxborough on a one-year contract. It brought 10 starts, a career high, to go with 29 receptions for 244 yards and a pair of scores while appearing in every game. Entering the league in the second round of the 2018 draft at No. 42 overall, the Penn State product began his run with the Miami Dolphins.
Ted Karras, center — The 32-year-old Karras has been voted a team captain across every NFL stop he’s made. Selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2016 draft at No. 221 overall, the versatile Illinois alum won Super Bowl LI and LIII rings while with the club. He returned after spending 2020 in Miami Gardens before departing on a three-year contract that has since led to extensions through 2026. Karras stands 153 games, 109 starts and 7,303 offensive snaps into his career on the line. The veteran center has handled 100 percent of the workload for the Bengals in back-to-back seasons.
Joe Giles-Harris, linebacker — Last December, the Patriots released Giles-Harris from the practice squad after he reached the NFL limit in standard elevations. The 28-year-old linebacker logged 17 snaps on defense and 55 snaps on special teams over that span. He previously spent all of 2023 on the scout team at Gillette Stadium. He’s since had two tours with the Bengals and now resides on the 53-man roster. The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Duke has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. His career includes 34 tackles, one sack and three starts through 25 games.
Marco Wilson, cornerback — Last November, the Bengals claimed Wilson off waivers. He had seen action in 10 games for the Patriots last fall after landing as a waiver claim in 2023 and agreeing to a renegotiated contract. Those appearances stretched 206 snaps on defense and 48 snaps on special teams. The former Florida Gators cornerback entered the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2021 class and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week while there. Altogether, his career includes 179 tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and a touchdown return through 63 games and 37 starts.
NEW ENGLAND
Ben Brown, guard — Undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2022, Brown has started 11 of his 22 NFL appearances. The interior lineman’s NFL journey began with the Bengals. He tore his biceps in the first preseason game of his career and was placed on injured reserve. Brown would be waived after his rookie year. Stints with three other organizations followed before being signed to the 53-man roster last October via an AFC West practice squad. The 27-year-old became the starting center that same week. The Patriots retained Brown’s exclusive rights ahead of free agency. He has made one start at left guard, the lone change to the starting combination, while being active for every contest in 2025. The sixth man has handled 67 snaps on offense and 50 snaps on special teams. He’s reported as an eligible tight end in short-yardage situations.
Eric Gregory, defensive tackle — Following the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline, the Patriots claimed Gregory off waivers from the Bengals entering Labor Day weekend. It filled the spot left by veteran safety Jabrill Peppers’ release. The 25-year-old defensive tackle out of Arkansas headed to Cincinnati as part of the undrafted class in May. He had made the initial cut following a strong preseason that featured 96 defensive snaps. Gregory would be a healthy scratch for 10 consecutive games, in part due to a deep D-line depth chart led my Milton Williams, Christian Barmore and Khyiris Tonga. But his debut arrived in primetime last week against the New York Jets. It brought 15 downs on defense and a run stuff for a gain of one yard.
