The Cincinnati Bengals have had three players in just over a week request a trade or release from the team amid a difficult year on the defensive side of the ball.
Six-year starting linebacker Logan Wilson requested a trade, defensive tackle Mike Pennel requested and was granted his release, and on Thursday, former third-round pick McKinnley Jackson requested his trade or release.
Wilson was benched, Pennel seemingly wanted to go back to the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jackson has struggled to make the gameday roster this season.
Despite the trade requests, head coach Zac Taylor spoke to the media on Friday and applauded the culture in the Bengals’ locker room.
Taylor highlights cornerback DJ Turner, who has been essentially the best player on the defense since the start of the season. He also mentions Barrett Carter, the linebacker who now starts over Wilson and wears the green dot, communicating with Al Golden for defensive play calls.
After a disaster of a performance against the New York Jets, the defense held a players-only meeting, and it would appear that players like Turner and Carter are taking the lead when trying to get this defense turned around.
It can start on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. If the Bengals can get a win headed into their bye week and the Pittsburgh Steelers lose to the Indianapolis Colts, the Bengals will still be very much alive in the race for the AFC North.
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