After years on the practice squad, the veteran defensive back aims to seize the vacant nickel role and solidify his place in Cincinnati’s evolving secondary.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and defensive coordinator Al Golden will have no shortage of roster decisions to make heading into training camp. The offensive line pecking order, the edge rusher rotation, the linebacker competition; all of it will demand attention.
But one of the more quietly compelling position battles is happening in the secondary, specifically at the nickel cornerback spot, which currently is perhaps the most unsettled position in Cincinnati’s entire defensive backfield.
The Bengals’ cornerback depth features Dax Hill and DJ Turner II as projected outside starters, with third-round rookie Tacario Davis expected to develop behind them. That leaves the slot cornerback role without a clearcut answer heading into 2026.
But the player with the inside track, according to USA Today’s Kelsey Conway, is a 30-year-old veteran who spent the better part of eight NFL seasons on practice squads before finally getting his shot.
Jalen Davis re-signed with Cincinnati in February on a one-year deal. On Tuesday, he was asked about seizing the opportunity to be a starter next season.
“I feel like I’ve always been ready to play, but it wasn’t God’s time, but that time might be now and I’m ready for it,” Davis said (via CLNS’ Mike Petraglia).
His journey to this point is unlike almost anyone else in the building. Davis went undrafted out of Utah State in 2018, was among the final cuts of the Miami Dolphins, and spent years cycling through practice squads before joining the Bengals in 2020. He was a special teams staple during Cincinnati’s playoff runs in 2021 and 2022 but never found a pathway to consistent defensive snaps.
That changed last November. With Golden needing stability at the nickel position, he elevated Davis from the practice squad.
Davis played between 40 and 60 percent of snaps per game down the stretch, making three starts. His signature moment came in Week 16 against Miami when he matched Jaylen Waddle stride for stride on a deep ball and intercepted it for the first pick of his career in his 62nd NFL game.
While Davis has the potential to solidify his position on the roster, his biggest limitation is also hard to ignore. Davis struggles in man-to-man coverage against elite slot receivers.
Nevertheless, cornerbacks coach Charles Burks, who has known Davis since the 2019 Miami preseason, has faith in Davis and was full of praise for the 2017 First-Team All-American: “Most consistent player I’ve ever coached. He makes the people around him better and made us a better defense. His impact goes far beyond stats. You can’t quantify it, but you can feel it when he is out there with our defense.”
Eight years into his NFL journey, the starting job is within reach. Now it is left for Davis to prove that he is the right man for the job.