Wide open position battle within Cincinnati Bengals’ defense heats up the second week of OTAs
The nickelback position will feature the most open competition for Bengals leading up to the 2026 season. Ja’Sir Taylor helped make his case at the start of Cincinnati’s second week of OTAs.
The nickelback position will feature the most open competition for the Cincinnati Bengals leading up to the 2026 season.
Jalen Davis is the incumbent starter, but free agent signing Ja’Sir Taylor is very much in the mix to play over him. Taylor was playing with the starters during 7-on-7 work Tuesday at OTAs.
Ja’Sir Taylor firmly in the mix to start for Bengals
Taylor signed with Cincinnati a few weeks after free agency began. The former sixth-round pick played for the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets last season. His most active years in terms of playing time came in 2023 and 2024. 84% of his snaps during those seasons featured him in the slot.
His fit within the defense is obvious, and it’s starting to show in the early days of practice.
Ja’Sir Taylor Stats & Facts
Cincinnati’s veteran defensive back turned 27 earlier this offseason.
- Taylor was drafted 214th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Chargers.
- Taylor’s lone career interception came in 2023, when he started a career-high six games.
- Los Angeles traded Taylor to the Jets before the trade deadline during the 2025 season.
Davis and Taylor figure to be the main players for the slot for the remainder of the offseason. The former officially started three games last year, but was a significant contributor in the final seven games, totaling 270 defensive snaps during that stretch.
CB Tacario Davis was drafted in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but he’s taking reps with the second-team on the outside behind starters Dax Hill and DJ Turner II.
Taylor signed here with the idea of competing for real snaps. He turned down other offers with guaranteed money for the opportunity. Defensive coordinator Al Golden is giving him just that. More days like Tuesday may help him secure it.
Davis will be taking just as much, if not more, reps in the slot as Taylor throughout the summer. This battle could go on until the end of August, and may even trickle into the regular season.
Cincinnati is showing it has already begun.