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Jun. 11—CINCINNATI — Just like they did at linebacker, the front office and the coaching staff showed faith in the production that the team received at slot corner during the final two months of the season.
There are a couple of new faces who can provide depth and help at that position. But right now, the most likely outcome is that the Bengals run it back with Jalen Davis as the team's nickel corner.
"He's a great communicator," defensive coordinator Al Golden said. "He's really bright. He's experienced. He's got a passion for the game. He does exactly what (cornerbacks coach) Chuck (Burks) asks him to do. He made a big difference. He made us better and allowed us to move Dax (Hill) back outside. Dax at the same time was getting healthier and playing faster. Jalen came on and I'm really glad Jalen is going to be with us. I have a lot of respect for him and the way he operates. He didn't pout when it wasn't his time or his turn, but at the same time when we called on him, man was he ready."
The 2025 season was a big year for Davis. He had been with the Bengals since 2020, but he had barely played and spent most of his time on the practice squad. Davis was on the practice squad for the entire first half of the 2025 season. But then, when Cam Taylor-Britt suffered a season-ending injury and as Josh Newton was struggling, the coaching staff decided to move Hill from the slot to the outside and added Davis to the active roster to be the team's starting slot corner.
During OTAs this spring, Davis has continued to play slot corner with the first-team defense.
"It shows that they have faith in me," Davis said. "It's up to me to do what I can do."
Davis is trying to not get caught up in how different his role on the team feels this spring. Instead of running with the backups or the third-team unit, he can continue to show why he can be a starter on the Bengals.
"I've always got the same mindset if I'm on the practice squad or whatever," Davis said. "I'll put my head forward and do what I can to help this team."
While Davis looks like the best slot corner option on the roster, there could also end up being a committee at that position in 2026.
Teams around the NFL have made an effort to get bigger personnel groupings onto the field due to certain trends in the league, and teams are using multi-tight end sets more than they have in years. Free agent signing Kyle Dugger, a very versatile safety, could take Davis' spot on the field in some of those matchups against multi-tight end looks.
"I'm really impressed with Kyle," Golden said. "Physical player, uses his hands well. He's a good edge setter. He's really, really natural around the box. He can find the football. He sees the ball so he disrupts it really well. You can pressure with him. He's good in the run game in terms of his force and fill. I'm really impressed with him."
The Bengals signed 2022 Chargers sixth-round pick Ja'Sir Taylor, who will be competing for a spot on the Bengals' roster. He has played 484 more career snaps than Davis and is a few years younger. Taylor had some good stretches on the Chargers' defense, but he had more bad ones and didn't play much in 2025 before being traded to the Jets midseason.
Newton remains an option in the slot, and he enters training camp with a lot to prove.
Davis popped in 2025 with his ability to find the football, tackle and blitz, and he also had one of the most impressive interceptions of the entire season for the Bengals.
With more experience under his belt now than he has ever had, the 30-year-old Davis hopes to continue to grow and develop.
"I'm a playmaker," Davis said. "I'll go out there and make plays for us."
Continue reading...
There are a couple of new faces who can provide depth and help at that position. But right now, the most likely outcome is that the Bengals run it back with Jalen Davis as the team's nickel corner.
"He's a great communicator," defensive coordinator Al Golden said. "He's really bright. He's experienced. He's got a passion for the game. He does exactly what (cornerbacks coach) Chuck (Burks) asks him to do. He made a big difference. He made us better and allowed us to move Dax (Hill) back outside. Dax at the same time was getting healthier and playing faster. Jalen came on and I'm really glad Jalen is going to be with us. I have a lot of respect for him and the way he operates. He didn't pout when it wasn't his time or his turn, but at the same time when we called on him, man was he ready."
The 2025 season was a big year for Davis. He had been with the Bengals since 2020, but he had barely played and spent most of his time on the practice squad. Davis was on the practice squad for the entire first half of the 2025 season. But then, when Cam Taylor-Britt suffered a season-ending injury and as Josh Newton was struggling, the coaching staff decided to move Hill from the slot to the outside and added Davis to the active roster to be the team's starting slot corner.
During OTAs this spring, Davis has continued to play slot corner with the first-team defense.
"It shows that they have faith in me," Davis said. "It's up to me to do what I can do."
Davis is trying to not get caught up in how different his role on the team feels this spring. Instead of running with the backups or the third-team unit, he can continue to show why he can be a starter on the Bengals.
"I've always got the same mindset if I'm on the practice squad or whatever," Davis said. "I'll put my head forward and do what I can to help this team."
While Davis looks like the best slot corner option on the roster, there could also end up being a committee at that position in 2026.
Teams around the NFL have made an effort to get bigger personnel groupings onto the field due to certain trends in the league, and teams are using multi-tight end sets more than they have in years. Free agent signing Kyle Dugger, a very versatile safety, could take Davis' spot on the field in some of those matchups against multi-tight end looks.
"I'm really impressed with Kyle," Golden said. "Physical player, uses his hands well. He's a good edge setter. He's really, really natural around the box. He can find the football. He sees the ball so he disrupts it really well. You can pressure with him. He's good in the run game in terms of his force and fill. I'm really impressed with him."
The Bengals signed 2022 Chargers sixth-round pick Ja'Sir Taylor, who will be competing for a spot on the Bengals' roster. He has played 484 more career snaps than Davis and is a few years younger. Taylor had some good stretches on the Chargers' defense, but he had more bad ones and didn't play much in 2025 before being traded to the Jets midseason.
Newton remains an option in the slot, and he enters training camp with a lot to prove.
Davis popped in 2025 with his ability to find the football, tackle and blitz, and he also had one of the most impressive interceptions of the entire season for the Bengals.
With more experience under his belt now than he has ever had, the 30-year-old Davis hopes to continue to grow and develop.
"I'm a playmaker," Davis said. "I'll go out there and make plays for us."
Continue reading...
