GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals and All-Pro defensive back Tyrann Mathieu agreed to a five-year, $62.5 million contract extension, with $40 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The big contract comes despite major injuries to both of Mathieu’s knees in his first three NFL seasons. He has yet to play a full NFL season.

Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu, known as the "Honey Badger" to his multitude of fans, agreed to a five-year, $62.5 million contract extension, with $40 million guaranteed. Associated Press/Elaine Thompson

Mathieu, known as the “Honey Badger” to his multitude of fans, sent a tweet Tuesday that said simply, “blessed.”

The agreement is further evidence of his remarkable rise after being out of football for a season following his dismissal from LSU for marijuana-related offenses.

Mathieu was considered a risk when the Cardinals chose him in the third round (69th overall) in the 2013 draft, but he quickly developed into one of the team’s top players and evolved into a vocal leader with no off-field issues.

Mathieu’s first contract had $800,000 guaranteed with a multitude of drug tests, but much of the money was spread over four seasons because of concerns about his earlier problems.

The new contract would be the largest for a safety in NFL history. Although he is listed as a safety and earned All-Pro honors at that position, Mathieu had more plays at cornerback last season. Basically, he’s a do-everything defensive back.

BENGALS: Cincinnati signed H-back Ryan Hewitt to a three-year contract extension through the 2019 season.

• Tyler Kroft hurt his left knee during practice, another blow to the Bengals’ tight end position.

The Bengals were counting on Kroft while starter Tyler Eifert recovers from surgery on his left ankle. Eifert is still wearing a protective boot and could miss the start of the season.

FALCONS: The Falcons attempted to address their persistent pass-rush problem by agreeing to terms on a deal with free-agent linebacker Dwight Freeney.

Freeney, 36, hasn’t had a double-digit sack total since 2010. Even so, his eight sacks in 11 games with Arizona in 2015 would have easily led Atlanta. He’ll give the Falcons the established pass-rush leader the team has lacked since John Abraham’s final season with Atlanta in 2012.

The Falcons were last in the league with only 19 sacks last season. They have ranked no higher than 28th in sacks since 2012.

RAVENS: Running back Trent Richardson was cut by the Ravens, who lost patience while waiting for the former first-round pick to recover from injuries.

Signed by the Ravens in April, Richardson began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list because of hamstring and knee issues.

Richardson hasn’t played in the NFL since 2014. Drafted by Cleveland in 2012 with the third overall pick, the former Alabama star was dealt to Indianapolis during his second season and cut by the Colts in 2014.

He received a tryout with Oakland last year, but did not make the team.

GIANTS: Damon “Snacks” Harrison, who signed a $46 million free-agent contract in the offseason, missed the first three practices after being put on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a swollen knee. The extra rest worked, and the big run-stuffer was taken off PUP.

JETS: The Jets activated left guard James Carpenter from the active/physically unable to perform list after he missed the first four days of training camp with a hamstring injury.

Carpenter had been replaced by Dakota Dozier at left guard with the starting offense during the first four camp practices.

Carpenter started every game last season, his first with the Jets after four with Seattle and helped lead New York to a franchise-record 5,925 total yards.

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