Bengals hoping Cam Taylor-Britt can 'turn the page' after benching - ESPN

CINCINNATI — One of the most notable things about Cincinnati's win Thursday was who wasn't playing.

Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was a healthy scratch for the team's 33-31 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers that snapped a four-game losing streak. Over the course of the last two years, Taylor-Britt has had moments when he has been taken out of the lineup. Most recently, that occurred this year in the team's Week 4 loss to the Denver Broncos.

But Thursday was an unprecedented development for the 2022 second-round pick. Despite the setback, Cincinnati is still hopeful that 26-year-old Taylor-Britt can turn the corner.

«I would love nothing more [than] for him to respond and go on a great run here,» Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden told reporters Friday. «I enjoy being around Cam. I really want the best for him, and I really hope that he has an opportunity here to really turn the page and come out of this thing really, really good here over the next half of the season.»

Before this season, the former Nebraska standout had started in 38 of his 39 appearances as the team's outside cornerback. He also started in the team's season opener against the Cleveland Browns. In Week 2, he did not start but played in 90% of the team's defensive snaps. A hamstring injury kept him out of the next week's game against the Minnesota Vikings.

When he returned, it was clear his role was in jeopardy. He played just five snaps in the team's Week 4 loss to the Broncos, getting benched after giving up a big play. Taylor-Britt had a blown coverage in Week 6 on a late play against the Green Bay Packers that allowed them to seal a victory. That led to what happened Thursday night.

After the game, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said