DJ Turner’s Breakout Season Deserved a Pro Bowl Nod - But He’ll Have to Settle for Being the Bengals’ Brightest Spot
The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2025 campaign hasn’t gone the way anyone in the Queen City hoped. Sitting at 5-10, with injuries and inconsistency clouding the season, there haven’t been many wins-on the field or in the headlines. But if you’re looking for a silver lining, it’s wearing No. 20 in the Bengals’ secondary.
DJ Turner has emerged as one of the NFL’s most exciting young cornerbacks, and in a year that’s offered more frustration than celebration for Cincinnati, his ascension has been a revelation.
After a rookie season filled with the usual growing pains and a second-year campaign cut short by a broken collarbone, Turner has put it all together in Year 3. He’s not just flashing potential anymore-he’s delivering lockdown performances week after week. The Bengals bet on Turner when they took him in the second round of the 2023 draft, and that investment is paying off in a big way.
But despite his breakout season, Turner won’t be heading to the Pro Bowl. That honor, instead, went to division rival Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns.
Now, let’s be clear: Ward is a seasoned vet, and the rest of the AFC’s Pro Bowl cornerback selections are hard to argue with. Derek Stingley Jr. is the cornerstone of the Texans’ top-ranked defense.
Christian Gonzalez has quietly been elite in New England, holding quarterbacks to a passer rating under 70. And Patrick Surtain II continues to look like the best corner in the game in Denver.
That’s a stacked group.
Still, Turner had a case-arguably a strong one-to be in that mix.
The numbers, the tape, the matchups-Turner checks every box. He’s been sticky in coverage, physical at the line, and savvy in zone.
He’s played like a seasoned vet, not a third-year player still finding his way. And when you compare his 2025 performance to Ward’s, it’s hard not to feel like Cincinnati’s rising star got the short end of the stick.
Part of the issue? Fan voting.
The Pro Bowl process is a mix of fan, player, and coach input, and fans account for a full third of the vote. Turner never cracked the top 10 in fan voting among AFC corners-not in early December, and not when the final tallies came in.
That’s not necessarily a knock on the fans, but it does highlight how under-the-radar Turner’s season has flown outside of Cincinnati.
And that’s a shame, because the tape tells a different story. Analysts and film junkies have been quick to point out the gap between Turner and some of the corners who made it.
The eye test backs it up. So do the advanced metrics.
Turner’s snub stings a little more in a season where the Bengals haven’t had much to celebrate. But if there’s any consolation, it’s that this kind of thing tends to stick with players. Motivation like this doesn’t fade easily-and with Turner entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, he’ll have every reason to come back even better.
And while the Pro Bowl isn’t quite the honor it used to be, it still matters. Recognition from peers, coaches, and fans means something.
Turner’s earned that respect on the field. Hopefully, the accolades catch up soon.
In the meantime, Bengals fans can take pride in knowing they’ve got a young star in the making-and one who’s only getting started.