Cincy hopes benching gets Taylor-Britt 'to respond'

CINCINNATI -- One of the astir notable things astir Cincinnati's triumph connected Thursday was who wasn't playing.

Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was a steadfast scratch for the team's 33-31 triumph implicit the Pittsburgh Steelers that snapped a four-game losing streak. Over the people of the past 2 years, Taylor-Britt has had moments wherever helium has been taken retired of the lineup. Most recently, that occurred this twelvemonth successful the team's Week 4 nonaccomplishment to the Denver Broncos.

But Thursday was an unprecedented improvement for the 2022 second-round pick. Despite the setback, Cincinnati is inactive hopeful that Taylor-Britt tin crook the corner.

"I would emotion thing much for him to respond and spell connected a large tally here," Bengals antiaircraft coordinator Al Golden told reporters connected Friday. "I bask being astir Cam. I truly privation the champion for him and I truly anticipation that helium has an accidental present to truly crook the leafage and travel retired of this happening really, truly bully present implicit the adjacent fractional of the season."

Before this season, the erstwhile Nebraska standout had started successful 38 of his 39 appearances arsenic the team's extracurricular cornerback. He besides started successful the team's play opener against the Cleveland Browns. In Week 2, helium did not commencement but played successful 90% of the team's antiaircraft snaps. A hamstring wounded kept him retired of the adjacent week's crippled against the Minnesota Vikings.

When helium returned, it was wide his relation was successful jeopardy. He played conscionable 5 snaps successful the team's Week 4 nonaccomplishment to the Denver Broncos, erstwhile helium was benched aft giving up a large play. Taylor-Britt had a blown sum successful Week 6 connected a precocious play against the Green Bay Packers that allowed them to seal a victory. That led to what happened Thursday night.

After the game, Bengals manager Zac Taylor said Taylor-Britt presumption was a substance of giving different players opportunities to play.

DJ Turner II continued to marque the astir of his snaps. He played a cardinal relation successful forcing 1 interception earlier helium ripped the shot distant from Pittsburgh's DK Metcalf for different prime that Golden said was 1 of the champion he's seen successful his years successful the league.

Cincinnati's first-year antiaircraft coordinator lauded Turner and noted that helium was successful a akin concern arsenic Taylor-Britt little than 2 months ago.

"He's changed his full process," Golden said of Turner, who was drafted 1 twelvemonth aft Taylor-Britt. "He's engaged astatine an elite level close now. He's the aforesaid feline each time and it's the consistency that allows maturation and he's not going backwards."

What has worked for Turner could besides assistance Taylor-Britt regain playing time. On Monday, Taylor said that consistency connected a play and regular ground tin alteration the cornerback's standing.

"He's talented, precocious energy, wants to bash right," Taylor said. "Just support moving astatine it."

Throughout his struggles this season, Taylor-Britt has ne'er shied distant from trying to beryllium wherefore his banal was erstwhile truthful high. In 2023 and 2024, helium had a combined 7 interceptions, including 2 that were returned for touchdowns.

The 26-yea...