The Cincinnati Bengals lost starting slot cornerback Jalen Davis for at least four weeks with a hamstring injury after the Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team was forced to adjust mid-game, moving players around to try to make it work.
Now that Davis is sidelined, defensive coordinator Al Golden confirmed what many expected when he announced that Dax Hill would be moving back into the slot corner role.
Golden also mentioned Josh Newton being in the mix. Newton has been inactive for the first
three weeks of the season, but will likely be on the active roster on Sunday.
Hill has experience in the slot dating all the way back to his time at The University of Michigan. The Bengals initially started him out at safety before moving him to slot corner and ultimately starting him at the outside corner spot the last couple of seasons.
His versatility was a big part of why he was drafted, and now, he will be called on to adjust yet again. This is the last season of his rookie contract after the Bengals picked up his club option. He likely wanted to remain a boundary corner for free agency and contract purposes
Hill has been put in multiple different positions in his five years as a Bengal, so hopefully that experience pays off Sunday, where he will likely find himself matched up with Parker Washington several times.
As for the other boundary spot, DJ Ivey has a good chance at getting it, though rookie Tacario Davis will also challenge for snaps there as well.
