Bengals already showing major trust in two rookies
The tiger-striped helmets are out for the Cincinnati Bengals this week as OTAs are in full swing. Tuesday morning was the first time all offseason the offense and defense had walkthroughs against one another. It's still far too early in the year to gauge how much different the team is from a schematic standpoint, but […]
The tiger-striped helmets are out for the Cincinnati Bengals this week as OTAs are in full swing. Tuesday morning was the first time all offseason the offense and defense had walkthroughs against one another.
It's still far too early in the year to gauge how much different the team is from a schematic standpoint, but early signs point to how the depth chart will eventually shake out.
Specifically in the defensive backfield, it's looking like rookies DJ Turner II and Jordan Battle will have notable roles right out of the gate.
Both Turner and Battle are getting first-team reps with Cincinnati's defense, per CLNS Media's Mike Petragila.
Turner's inclusion is not a huge surprise, as incumbent starter Chidobe Awuzie is still rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered last Halloween. Awuzie is present at OTAs, but isn't cleared to practice yet. Turner taking reps for Awuzie indicates he's already the primary reserve cornerback ahead of Sidney Jones, and Allan George on the outside.
At safety, Battle's role is more a mystery. He was drafted after Turner in the third round, and it came as a surprise to many outside the organization. The team also signed Nick Scott to potentially play next to Dax Hill in the back-half of the secondary, and the three-year deal he agreed to can be considered a starter's contract.
Battle is still taking reps with the ones, but the coaching staff appears to be giving Battle exposure in the role to see how he fares. A competition could be had between the fifth-year veteran and rookie out of Alabama to decide who's the full-time starter.
Bengals director of college scouting Mike Potts spoke very highly of Battle specifically after interviewing him at the NFL Scouting Combine. That the 23-year old is already getting first-team reps in his defense backs up that initial praise.
Featured image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
