Cincinnati’s defense kept one of its most important pieces on the sideline again Sunday, as cornerback Dax Hill missed his third straight practice while the Bengals continued getting ready for Thursday’s preseason opener against the Detroit Lions.
Hill has been working through leg tightness, and the Bengals have handled the situation carefully with one of their starting cornerbacks. Zac Taylor has not offered a timetable for Hill’s return, and the team has not provided one either. At this point, his stretch of missed work makes it unlikely he sees action against Detroit, though Cincinnati has no real reason to push him back for a preseason game anyway.
The Bengals are already dealing with a secondary that has plenty of new faces, and Hill remains one of the key returning players alongside DJ Turner. Both corners are entering the final year of their contracts. Hill, who had what looked like a hamstring issue last week, is not believed to be dealing with anything serious, but three straight missed practices still stand out.
While Hill has been out, DJ Ivey has taken extra first-team reps in camp and made the most of them. He’s knocked away multiple passes, including several while lined up against Tee Higgins.
That has opened the door for more preseason work for rookie Tacario Davis and veteran Jalen Davis as well. Tacario brings unusual length on the outside, while Jalen adds experience. Their flexibility gives the Bengals more ways to piece things together with Hill unavailable.
When Hill is healthy, the plan is for him to start opposite DJ Turner II in Cincinnati’s rebuilt 2026 defense. He had been one of the early standouts in camp before the tightness showed up, and his teammates have noticed what he brings.
“I've said it over the years - nobody can do what he does,” Turner said recently when discussing Hill’s versatility.
Even with that kind of praise, Hill is still expected to stay on the outside this season, despite a career that has included work at safety, slot cornerback, and outside cornerback. The 25-year-old is in the final year of his rookie deal after the Bengals declined his fifth-year option. Last season, he played 17 games and finished with 88 tackles, 11 pass deflections, two tackles for loss, and one interception.
For Cincinnati, the bigger picture is simple: Hill’s health matters. It matters for his own future, whether that’s with the Bengals or elsewhere, and it matters for a defense that believes it can take a major step forward this season.
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