Cincinnati Bengals fans might have noticed a slight shakeup to the defense during the team’s Week 5 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
There, rookie safety Jordan Battle notably took some snaps from veteran Nick Scott, who arrived this offseason via free agency. After the game, official snap counts had the split at 67-39 in favor of Scott.
But that split might change more in the rookie’s favor soon.
Asked about the topic on Wednesday, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo confirmed that they’re still trying to find what works best on the back end of the defense.
Anarumo said the following, per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic: “Keep rotating those guys. See how it plays out. I could see them both playing going forward.”
One thing that won’t change is the other safety spot largely belonging to Dax Hill, who plays all over the field. Scott and Battle can still take the field together in certain packages, but it’s clear the door is open for the rookie to make a name for himself and really earn more playing time in the coming weeks.
