Bengals: Cam Taylor-Britt's breakout season is more impressive than you think

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated 11/23/23

While the Cincinnati Bengals' defense hasn't played up to its standard this year, second-year cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has only raised his own standard of play.

Taylor-Britt has taken the role of the No. 1 cornerback in Lou Anarumo's defense and ran with it. He leads the team in interceptions with four on the year, and all of them have come within the past seven weeks.

Coincidentally, that's how long Taylor-Britt has dealt with an injury.

Following the Bengals' Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Taylor-Britt told Cincinnati.com's Kelsey Conway that he suffered a bruised quad all the way back in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, a game in which he returned an interception for a touchdown.

Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt just told me he’s “day-to-day” right now and doesn’t know if he’ll play vs the Steelers

CTB said he’s been dealing with this injury for a while now, dating back to the game in AZ when he played through it. He has a bruised quad.
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) November 20, 2023

That interception was the first of four the second-year player would haul in over the next several weeks, all whilst playing hurt. In fact, no other player has picked off more passes in this timeframe than Taylor-Britt.

NFL Interception Leaders Since Week 5

CIN Cam Taylor Britt: 4
DAL DaRon Bland: 3
NO Paulsen Adebo: 3
MIN Byron Murphy Jr.: 3

Four interceptions in an entire season is impressive, especially for Bengals standards. The franchise hasn't had a cornerback pick off more than three passes in a season since Darius Phillips had four in 2019. Phillips also managed to do it in just six games, but Taylor-Britt accomplishing it not only while injured, but going up against top receivers every week is remarkable.

Taylor-Britt has added four pass breakups to go with his four picks during this stretch of games, and quarterbacks have a 62.9 passer rating when targeting him. Geno Smith, Josh Allen, and C.J. Stroud have all fallen victim to his coverage at least once.

Will Taylor-Britt get to do the same to Kenny Pickett this week? It doesn't look likely as of now. The Bengals practiced without their former second-round pick Wednesday afternoon as he rests from aggravating his quad injury last week. He may have to sit Sunday out if he can't get a practice in before then.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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