DJ Turner II reflects on tumultuous path to NFL stardom with Cincinnati Bengals
The budding star didn’t have his 2025 campaign begin the way that many remember.
Oct 16, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II (20) gestures toward his bench as he walks off the field with an apparent injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images When the Cincinnati Bengals drafted DJ Turner in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, it was a choice not only based on depth but also on long-term starting potential. The team had Cam Taylor-Britt manning one starting spot (who had a blip of stardom that year), as well as veteran Chidobe Awuzie and flexible first-round pick Dax Hill, on the roster.
Even so, Turner started 12 games that year and became one of the best starting corners in the game this past season, racking up his first two interceptions of his career and a whopping 18 passes defended. In a recent virtual interview with NFL Insider Ari Meirov, Turner spoke about his outstanding 2025 season. But what many forget is how the year didn’t start with all roses and sunshine.
Turner lost out on a starting outside role to Taylor-Britt and Hill before the 2025 Week 1 opener against the Browns, with head coach Zac Taylor breaking the news to him. Instead of getting inside of his own head, Turner politely told Taylor that he’d regain the starting spot and wouldn’t look back. Boy, was Turner correct on that one.
“When I got called in there, I got benched, and I appreciate coach Zac doing this…you know, a lot of times, you get benched, it is what it is, but he wanted to call me in. He wanted to talk to me,” Turner said. “So he called me in and was like, ‘I just want to tell you, we decided to go with somebody else the first week.