Byron Bell signs restricted tender with Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Byron Bell has signed his restricted free agent tender with the club.

The opportunity for the 25-year-old to sign an offer sheet with another team passed last month, and left him with the options of accepting his tender or sitting out the off-season programme with the Panthers.

Bell decided to sign the one-year contract worth $2.187m (£1.296m) to stay with Ron Rivera's side, who are in need of numbers at tackle following the retirement of Jordan Gross.

The 25-year-old entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011.