Jordan Battle wasn’t expected to make a huge impact his rookie year with the Cincinnati Bengals starting former first-round pick Dax Hill and also having signed Nick Scott at safety.
That quickly changed, however, when the team hit the field. Those two safeties struggled to stop the big plays far too often, so Battle stepped in and played the role of a seasoned veteran in helping limit those big plays.
In 2024, Battle no longer has to play that role, and he can now be the young learning player he is. With the signings of Vonn Bell and Geno Stone, the Bengals replaced both of their 2023 starters, one of whom was cut and the other who completely switched positions.