Larry Johnson has his second chance. The troubled former Chiefs running back will sign Tuesday morning with the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson’s agent told The Star late Monday night.

Peter Schaffer wrote in an e-mail that Johnson’s deal would be finalized early Tuesday, a day after Johnson reportedly was in Cincinnati to meet with Bengals coaches. Reports surfaced Monday that Johnson, who was released last week by the Chiefs after 6 ½ seasons, was being courted by the Bengals after running back Cedric Benson suffered a hip injury in Sunday’s win against Pittsburgh.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told local reporters Monday that, if his team signed Johnson, the 29-year-old rusher would be “insurance” to Cincinnati’s ailing running backs corps. Johnson will at least start his time with the Bengals as their fourth-string running back.

Johnson was released Nov. 9, the day he was eligible to return from a two-week suspension for detrimental conduct. He averaged 2.7 yards per carry and did not have a touchdown in seven contests with the Chiefs.