A year after signing Michael Johnson to a $43.75 million contract, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released the defensive lineman on Wednesday.

The Buccaneers will absorb a $7 million salary cap hit while saving $2 million off his scheduled $9 million hit.

Exactly a year ago, Johnson left the Cincinnati Bengals to sign a five-year deal worth $43.75 million with Tampa Bay.

He was guaranteed $9 million in 2014 and $7 million in 2015, and he would have been guaranteed $2 million more this year and $5 million more in 2016 if he had been on the Buccaneers’ roster Thursday.

In 14 games last season, Johnson had just 27 tackles and four sacks.

A third-round pick in 2009, Johnson had 26.5 sacks in five seasons with the Bengals, who reportedly are interested in bringing him back.