Cincinnati Bengals TJ Slaton Not Sweating Game Against His Former Team In Week 6

For many NFL players, the first game against a former team is circled on the calendar. It’s a date loaded with emotion, extra motivation, and a desire to prove a point. But for Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle TJ Slaton, the upcoming matchup against the Green Bay Packers is business as usual. As the Bengals prepare for their matchup, the run-stopping lineman is keeping his focus squarely on his job, not on the past.

Cincinnati Bengals TJ Slaton On Week 6 Matchup

When asked about facing the team that drafted him and where he spent his first four seasons, Slaton was quick to downplay the narrative of a revenge game. He was careful not to provide any bulletin board material for his old teammates, insisting it’s “just another football game.”

“I ain’t got no bad blood,” Slaton told reporters. “Thinking about it, you would say I would think about it like that (wanting to have a good game against an old team), but at end of the day I’m just trying to come in and just play football well.”

Slaton’s professional approach is a testament to his character. Instead of focusing on the fact that the Packers let him walk in free agency, he is concentrating on his responsibilities with the Bengals. His goal is simple: “Do the things that I do well, just trying to do my job, make sure I can be accounted for by all the other 10 people out there.”

He described his four years in Green Bay as “fun, eventful” and a good place to be, closing the book on that chapter of his career without any lingering animosity.

From Fifth-Round Pick to Key Starter

The Green Bay Packers selected TJ Slaton in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of the University of Florida. He quickly became a durable and reliable presence on their defensive line, playing in all 17 regular-season games in each of his four seasons. For his final two years, he was a full-time starter, becoming a key cog in their defensive front.

Despite his consistent production, his rookie contract expired, and the Packers opted not to offer an extension. The Bengals, in need of a powerful run-stopper after the departure of DJ Reader, moved quickly. They signed Slaton to a two-year, $15.1 million deal on the first day of the legal tampering period, signaling his importance to their defensive plans.

Now, the 6-foot-5, 330-pound lineman, who describes himself as a “truck,” is settling into his new role in Cincinnati. He is coming off his best performance of the season against the Detroit Lions, another old NFC North foe, where he recorded eight tackles.

Slaton’s Impact on the Bengals’ Defense

While Slaton felt he could have done even more to help his team in their recent loss, his impact on the run defense is becoming clear. Against a strong Detroit running game, the Bengals’ defense played one of its best games of the season, holding them to just 118 yards.

“We played really well against the run,” Slaton said. “We were physical. Just like what we discussed as a D-line is we could have got a little bit more knock-back, but other than that we played very well as a group.”

This week, his inside knowledge of the Packers’ offense could be a valuable asset. Green Bay boasts a balanced attack, with Josh Jacobs leading the seventh-best rushing offense in the league. Slaton knows what it will take to slow them down. “You just got to play a physical game of football,” he said. “It’s going to be another physical one. They got Josh. Josh is a great back, so we have to get him down.”

He also faces the challenge of going up against his former practice opponent, quarterback Jordan Love. Slaton praised Love as a “great quarterback” and noted the key to stopping him is to “make him be indecisive” and get hits on him. While Slaton is still looking for his first sack as a Bengal, he has already matched his career-high for quarterback hits in a season with three.

Focused on the Future

Ultimately, Slaton’s mindset is not on revenge but on winning. With the Bengals on a three-game losing streak, the team is desperate for a victory. He sees the defense as “heading in a good direction” and understands his role is to create opportunities for an offense that is still finding its footing without Joe Burrow.

“At the end of the day, we just want to play our brand of football,” Slaton concluded. “We just want to play up to our standard and just do the little things, get the offense back the ball, punch out the ball, get turnovers.”

As TJ Slaton prepares for his return to Lambeau Field, his focus is clear. It’s not about sending a message to his old team. It’s about doing his job, executing his assignments, and helping the Cincinnati Bengals get back in the win column.