Story by
Bengals Rookie Sends Strong Message in Final Preseason Game
- Story by
- Bengals Rookie Sends Strong Message in Final Preseason Game
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETW)
The Cincinnati Bengals' preseason schedule has come to a close after a 30-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night.
Offensive players like quarterback Josh Johnson and wide receiver Dohnte Meyers continue to impress, as Johnson threw for 156 yards, completing 12 passes on 19 attempts. Meyers had 51 yards on three catches.
Advertisement
Running back Kentrel Bullock ran for 85 yards and a score on 14 carries as the Bengals search for running back depth behind Chase Brown and Samaje Perine . Reports surfaced Saturday morning that the Bengals may be interested in trading for Pittsburgh Steelers running back and Cincinnati native Kaleb Johnson , who hasn't been able to catch on in Pittsburgh after being taken in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, the biggest takeaway from Friday's game in terms of long-term impact on the roster came in the form of cornerback Tacario Davis .
Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reported on Friday, the day of the game, that the Bengals aren't worried about adding a depth piece at corner behind DJ Turner and Dax Hill because of how Davis and DJ Ivey performed during training camp. Davis showed exactly why on Friday night, really putting his talents on display against first-round pick Makai Lemon.
Davis had an interception in the second quarter, making a one-handed catch off a deflection, showing good instincts. earlier in the game, he locked up Lemon on a 15-yard out, turning his head and using his length to deflect the pass just before Lemon could haul in the reception.
Advertisement
He also made a solid open-field tackle on a dump-off out of the backfield.
Davis was one of the best corners in all of college football for multiple seasons. His career at Arizona translated to success at Washington, leading to a third-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Adam Carter of ImpactFbData on X points out that Davis had man and zone coverage grades above 70 in his college career, which only three prospects have done since 2018.
A Swiss Army knife, good-at-everything player like Davis is exactly what the Bengals could use as a depth option in case of injury to either DJ Turner or Dax Hill. Davis could very well turn into a starting cornerback over the next couple of seasons if he proves to be reliable enough in his rookie season. Dax Hill is in the last year of his contract, and DJ Turner is now extension-eligible. The Bengals have some very important decisions to make regarding their corners over the next two seasons.
