Bengals' newest player says exactly what fans needed to hear ahead of his first game in Cincinnati

Needing to sign a free agent in the middle of the regular season is never an ideal situation. If you have to take that route, you want the player to be like Lawrence Guy .

The newest defensive tackle and member of the Cincinnati Bengals' 53-man roster is set to provide immediate depth where the team needs it the most following hamstring injuries to Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill .

Fortunately, Guy isn't just coming off the couch for this opportunity.

Thursday's practice will be the first step in figuring out how much Guy can play on "Monday Night Football" against the Washington Commanders. He told Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson he spent the offseason training as if he was already on a team.

"I might not have been in a training camp, but that didn't mean I did train like I wasn't in a camp," Guy said. "Two or three hours five days a week. When you get the call, you want to be prepared. If you get the call, you want to be prepared so I don't let down the people who gave me the call."

Guy, a 14-year veteran who turns 35 this year, was released by the New England Patriots all the way back in February and had been searching for an opportunity since. Staying in shape surely helped him nail his workout in Cincinnati earlier in the week . Offseason shape is one thing, but in-game shape is another. It's why the Bengals aren't likely to have him on the field for most of the game Monday night.

Having him and his 177 games of his experience for any amount of snaps is worth the move.

The next few days will determine how the Bengals' defensive tackle group will look against the Commanders. Guy will have his first practices with the team, rookie and second-round pick Kris Jenkins Jr. is a candidate to return to practice for the first time in two weeks, and both Rankins and Hill are likely to be at least limited. That Guy was signed at all is an indication that at least one of the two starters is likely out for this week.

Should Guy prove that his offseason work paid off, Bengals fans will see him take the field for the first time on Monday night.

Related: Bengals pass-rushing monster Trey Hendrickson is off to an even better start to the season than you think