Bengals CHANGING Starting Lineup On Defense + Major Bengals Injury News

The Bengals are asking Dax Hill to move back inside to nickel, and the decision is less about preference than necessity. With Jalen Davis headed to injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, Cincinnati suddenly has a hole at slot corner. Ja'Sir Taylor is still in his 21-day return window from injured reserve, leaving Hill as the most experienced in-house option. The Bengals’ current depth chart lists Hill as the starting nickel, with DJ Ivey moving outside opposite DJ Turner II.

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The timing is particularly interesting because Hill had just delivered one of the best games of his career at cornerback. Cincinnati had increasingly settled him at outside corner after moving him between safety and cornerback throughout his career. Against Pittsburgh, however, the Bengals moved him inside during the game, and the coaching staff now plans to use him there against Jacksonville. Defensive coordinator Al Golden praised Hill's recall, knowledge and toughness in the slot.

The secondary's injury situation makes Hill's versatility even more valuable. Starting safeties Jordan Battle and Bryan Cook are both dealing with injuries, while Kyle Dugger also missed Wednesday's practice with a quadriceps issue. Battle was limited and Cook was limited with his ankle injury. Cincinnati subsequently added safeties Beau Brade and Isaiah Nwokobia to the practice squad, providing additional depth behind a group that suddenly has plenty of uncertainty.

And the injury concerns aren't confined to the secondary. Right guard Dalton Risner, who injured his knee in Houston and played through it against Pittsburgh without missing a snap, did not practice Wednesday. That creates another position to monitor heading into Sunday.

So Hill's move illustrates Cincinnati's broader problem: injuries are forcing the Bengals to maximize versatility rather than maintain ideal positional continuity. Hill has played safety, outside corner and nickel during his career, and once again his ability to handle multiple assignments is becoming an important part of Cincinnati's short-term roster management.