Bengals add CB DJ Turner (hamstring) to report

Turner popped up on Thursday’s injury report with the hamstring issue, but head coach Zac Taylor said the fourth-year corner will be good to go for Sunday’s game. Turner posted career highs in pass breakups (18) and interceptions (2) last season while earning a PFF coverage grade of 78.1. The Bengals will rely heavily on him in Week 1 to slow down Baker Mayfield and a revamped Buccaneers passing game. While Turner is healthy and good to go, Taylor said DE Shemar Stewart (knee) is doubtful, making him unlikely to play in Week 1.

Turner had a 78.1 PFF coverage grade last year in a career-high 974 snaps and is entering the final year of his rookie deal, while Hill is entering his fifth-year option offseason having moved into the slot more often last year. Turner would appear to be the more important player to extend, but the Bengals are definitely still in “keep as many good pieces from last year’s defense as possible” mode.

He has “the potential to be gone for the year” and the Bengals are looking to add options in the secondary per Taylor. Turner had some big plays in Week 11’s loss to the Chargers and was just starting to round in to form. It’s a tough loss for a defense that is already best described as beleaguered.

According to Rapoport, Turner will seek a second opinion on his injury, but the second-year corner “is likely out for the season.” Turner has started every game for the Bengals this season, earning a PFF coverage grade of 68.4 while allowing 21 receptions for 253 yards on 39 targets. He has yet to allow a touchdown this season and has broken up eight passes, per PFF. His loss would be a tough one for a Bengals defense that is already struggling to slow its opponents.

The IMG Academy product was an unheralded three-star prospect who spent two years working his way up the Wolverines’ depth chart before finally breaking into the lineup in 2021. That year he earned Honorable Mention All-American honors with a sterling 54.8 passer rating when targeted and 83.8 PFF coverage grade. Turner (5’11/178) raised his level of play last year by recording 11 PBU with a 46.5 completion rate en route to Second Team All-Big Ten status. What he lacks in size, he makes up for with savvy, technique, and speed. And by speed, we’re talking a ludicrous 4.26s which was the fastest time at the 2023 Combine. Turner backed his rare speed score with a 38.5 vertical (88th%) and 10’11” broad jump (96th%) for a very projectable 9.59 RAS. A true worker bee, he can trigger in a snap and accelerates like a roadster when he’s trailing. While he’s still filling out his frame, the biggest concern NFL teams have is does Turner have enough strength to hold up physically on the outside against bigger wideouts despite his lean upper body? While he spent most of his Michigan tenure on the boundary, Turner will need to improve his play strength to win consistently in the NFL.

Turner (5'11/160) said that Florida was his runner-up program in this equation, with Clemson and Notre Dame working as periphery players. While Rivals only bestows upon him three-star status, his game has several clear positives. He possesses desired length and plus instincts, as well as respectable downfield speed. He’s going to need to add a fair bit of weight before he’s ready for the rigors of collegiate ball, though. A redshirt for Turner’s first year in Ann Arbor would make sense.