The Cincinnati Bengals defense has quietly flipped a switch since the bye week - and it’s not just a case of better effort or cleaner execution. It’s been about personnel, and more specifically, a reshuffled secondary that’s finally found its rhythm. What started as a move born out of necessity has turned into a potential blueprint for 2026 and beyond.
Let’s start with the trio that’s been making noise: DJ Turner, Dax Hill, and Jalen Davis. They’ve brought a level of consistency to the Bengals’ secondary that simply wasn’t there during the first 10 games of the season. Injuries forced the coaching staff to make some changes, and those changes have paid off.
Turner and Hill - both young, athletic, and instinctive - are now holding it down on the outside. Hill, who had been playing nickel earlier in the year, slid back out to the perimeter, where he thrived last season before undergoing ACL surgery.
That move opened the door for Davis, a veteran journeyman, to step in at nickel. And he’s done more than just fill a gap - he’s made an impact.
“They’re doing a great job,” head coach Zac Taylor said of Turner and Hill. “Both those guys, their athleticism is extremely high.
Dax has been playing outside these last couple of weeks and has a lot of confidence. And then JD (Jalen Davis) stepping in at nickel - he’s playing at a high level inside as well.
It’s been fun to watch that trio progress as a group.”
Davis’ story is one of perseverance. He’s in his eighth NFL season, but his path has been anything but linear.
Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Dolphins in 2018, he’s bounced between practice squads and active rosters with Miami, Arizona, and Cincinnati. He’s been waived, released, re-signed - you name it.
But when the Bengals needed someone to step in at nickel after Hill moved outside to replace the injured Cam Taylor-Britt, Davis was ready.
And he’s made the most of it. Since being activated in Week 12, Davis has played over 60% of the defensive snaps in three of the last four games. In Sunday’s 45-21 win over Miami, he recorded his first career interception and added a tackle for loss - a performance that echoed the kind of production Cincinnati used to get from Mike Hilton before he left in free agency.
“I’m just trying to take advantage of my opportunities,” Davis said.
Defensive coordinator Al Golden didn’t mince words when talking about Davis’ impact.
“He’s probably as much to do with our improvement as anything,” Golden said. “He’s settled this down.
He was ready for his opportunity. He’s played with confidence, he’s played fast, he’s been very reliable.
He’s nifty around the ball, sees the game well. The technique he used on the interception was tremendous - that’ll live here for a really, really long time.
I’m just happy for him. He’s a worker, he’s unselfish, and he’s really improved us.”
Golden also emphasized how critical the nickel spot is in his scheme - it’s a position that has to mesh with the safeties and linebackers pre-snap, and Davis has brought a calming presence there. “He puts everybody at ease around him,” Golden added.
The ripple effect has been felt throughout the secondary. Hill, back at outside corner, looks comfortable and confident - maybe more so than he did inside. Turner, meanwhile, continues to grow into his role, not just as a player but as a leader.
“DJ has really grown just as a player, as a leader and his process, and I think Dax is doing the same now,” Golden said. “He’s probably playing his best football.”
It’s a far cry from where this defense was earlier in the season. Statistically, Cincinnati still ranks near the bottom of the league, but the last five weeks have told a different story. The Bengals have generated 11 takeaways in that span - the most in the NFL - and the energy on tape is undeniable.
“We’ve always wanted to be a relentless defense - something where the effort flies off the tape and you see guys swarming to the ball,” Taylor said. “When I watch the tape from yesterday, you see everyone in the picture, everyone after first contact trying to get into the mix.”
Taylor also pointed to improved communication and a better understanding of the scheme as reasons for the turnaround. But make no mistake: this surge starts with the secondary - and more specifically, with Turner, Hill, and Davis stepping up when the Bengals needed them most.
If this group continues to develop, Cincinnati may have stumbled onto something more than a short-term fix. They might have found the foundation of their future.