ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins signed defensive tackle Matthias Askew today, bringing back a player they waived before last season.

The 6-foot-5, 302-pound Askew played in five games in 2004 and one in 2005 with the Cincinnati Bengals, who drafted him in the fourth round out of Michigan State.

The Bengals waived him before the 2006 season. He was with the Redskins during the 2007 preseason before being let go.

Askew filed a $50 million lawsuit against the city of Cincinnati in 2006, accusing police officers of excessive force when they used a stun gun to subdue him.

In other moves Monday, the Redskins released wide receivers Mike Espy and Steven Harris.