Understandably, Cincinnati Bengals second-round pick DJ Turner hasn’t received the same level of attention as first-rounder Myles Murphy since his arrival.
So it seems he’s forcing the spotlight on himself.
Turner’s name has been the one to repeatedly pop up on every single day of Bengals training camp since its opening last week. His stunning athletic profile (5’11” with 4.27 speed and a 38.5-inch vertical, for starters) and football acumen have him making big play after big play.
Commentary from coaches and otherwise only reinforces the idea.
“Very confident guy. He’s competitive, he’s out there trying to make plays, he’s not second-guessing himself,” cornerback coach Charles Burks said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “He gets lined up, he’s understanding his responsibilities. It’s not just his speed. He has a natural ability to feel the receiver. He knows when to make a cut, plays with good angles at the top of the route, and he has a good feel when he’s playing off.”
Here’s quarterback Trevor Siemian with a notable line too, via Hobson: “Quit throwing at No. 20.”
Turner coming along this quickly is a best-case scenario for a Bengals team that will start Cam Taylor-Britt and Mike Hilton at two of the corner spots. Chidobe Awuzie, the No. 1 corner, is all the way back from his season-ending injury already, but coaches might be slow in bringing him along. Turner’s performance and versatility give the defense more options than anticipated, should he keep up this momentum.
One final disclaimer? Training camp is the land of unwarranted hype, where everyone is in the best shape of their career, etc. But a rookie cornerback standing out — not merely getting through a practice — against these Bengals wideouts? That feels like a big deal.
