Starting CB Dax Hill suffered a torn ACL in his right knee near the end of the 1st quarter of his team’s 41-38 OT loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. As result, the defensive back will miss the remainder of the 2024 NFL campaign.
“Certainly heartbreaking, to work like he does, if it’s a bad deal,” head coach Zac Taylor said after the game to reporters.
The converted safety had finally begun to carve out a meaningful role for himself with the Bengals defence after switching positions, but will now have to watch from the sidelines as his team attempts to climb out of a 1-4 hole to start the season.
“I thought Dax was playing really good football for us,” Taylor said following Sunday’s loss. “He’s worked really hard to get to that position.”
According to most advanced analytic models, Hill had been Cincinnati’s most effective corner through the first 4 games of the season. In his place, the team will turn to former 2nd round draft pick DJ Turner, who has previous starting experience with the club.
Cincinnati was also without the services of CB Mike Hilton in Sunday’s loss, meaning their secondary is beginning to look worse for wear at the moment. And that’s not good news for a team struggling to find answers on both sides of the football through 5 games in 2024.
Only Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Carolina and the Los Angeles Rams have given up more yards to opponents this season than the Bengals. Already having given up the 2nd most passing touchdowns in the league, Cincinnati’s suddenly depleted secondary could be in for a long 2nd half of the season if the front office doesn’t make some changes to their personnel in the coming days.
Up next for Cincinnati is a Sunday primetime game vs. the New York Giants at 8:20pm ET.
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