CINCINNATI — Tight end Ben Utecht signed an offer sheet with the Cincinnati Bengals for a three-year contract.

The fourth-year pro is a restricted free agent from the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts can keep him by matching the Bengals' offer within a week.

The 6-foot-6, 251-pounder from Minnesota has played 41 games with 30 starts for the Colts. He has five postseason starts, including the Colts' Super Bowl victory last year. Utecht played in 14 games last season, with 31 catches for 364 yards and one touchdown.

The Bengals said today they wouldn't be required to compensate Indianapolis with a draft choice for Utecht, who entered the NFL as a college free agent.