CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Safety PJ Jules got noticed early in Bengals training camp for overly aggressive and at times reckless play, but his performance in Thursday’s preseason opener at Philadelphia and an injury that opened a door led to him taking some first team reps over the weekend.
The 6-foot, 203-pound Jules was signed as undrafted college free agent by the Bengals in 2024 and spent his rookie season on the team’s practice squad. He began training camp as a third team safety behind starters Jordan Battle and Geno Stone, and backups Tycen Anderson and Daijahn Anthony.
Stone suffered a soft tissue injury early in Thursday’s preseason opener and Jules tied for the team high with six tackles, all solo stops. He then followed it up in Saturday’s practice with an end zone interception of backup quarterback Jake Browning that led to him immediately getting first team reps.
“If the guy makes a play he’s earned an opportunity to stay on the field,” said safeties coach Jordan Kovacs. “That’s the way I look at it and the way I’ve always felt. You make a big play like that you’ve earned yourself some more reps.”
It’s the perfect mix of performance meeting opportunity.
“That’s how camp is, that’s how football is, when one guy goes down it’s an opportunity for the next guy up,” said Kovacs. “It’s been a really good opportunity to evaluate guys like Daijahn Anthony, Tycen Anderson, PJ Jules, Jaylen Key, Quan (Shaquan Loyal), so it’s been really good competition and an opportunity to see those guys run with the ones and get some significant reps.”
For Jules the chance to run with the first team was the product of nothing more than hard work. He said he hasn’t been away from the team’s practice facility since he was signed last May.
“I stayed during the offseason, I didn’t go nowhere,” said Jules. “I’ve been here really for the past two years. I haven’t gone home or taken any trips. I’ve been here working every single day. Ever since the end of spring I stayed here and the following Monday went back to work – a lot of work man.”
It didn’t go unnoticed by teammates as veteran Dax Hill was among those who gave Jules a shoutout publicly during camp, and Kovacs noticed as well.
“Man, I love Dax,” said Jules. “It felt good to see that the other guys see how hard I work. It’s a lifestyle for me. I’m just excited and thankful and grateful.”
Said Kovacs: “PJ is a gym rat. It means something to him. He’s as competitive as they come. The guy loves football and he’s very competitive. I think that’s a really good combination. Guys like that I love to coach and he’s just a guy that continues to get better. He does everything that you ask. He tries to do everything the right way. He’s not always perfect, but he’s a guy who has gotten better and better ever since he’s been here.”
Jules was noticeable in the first few practices of training camp for knocking offensive players down several times during a time when that isn’t allowed per the collective bargaining agreement.
“That’s just how I play as a football player. I’m a physical guy. I do tend to be physical, because it’s a physical sport and I like to assert my dominance. I’m learning.”
Kovacs admits there’s a fine line as coach watching Jules do that and knowing that it shouldn’t be done.
“That’s him to some degree and he’s still learning,” said Kovacs. “As a defensive coach that’s one of those things where you’re like, ‘Yes, but aaaahhh, I think we’ve got to be a little smarter there.’ It’s important that he understands how to protect his teammates. That’s a good problem to have. You’d rather have to pull the guy back, and that’s how I’ve always felt as a player and as a coach as well.”
Jules is still learning the nuances of playing safety at the NFL level after he played what he called “nickel linebacker,” in addition to safety in college at Southern Illinois University. He played for SIU from 2019-2023 and started 30 of 56 games played. As a senior in 2023 he was a consensus first-team FCS All-American selection when he led SIU in tackles with 111, 13 of which were for loss, and also had a team-high 11 pass breakups.
His NFL.com draft profile said the following about Jules: “Scheme-dependent box safety who requires a specific plan for usage when he’s on the field. Jules has good size and terrific play strength. He can deliver a thumping blow when running the alley and has the play strength to cover tight ends and finish tackles near the line. His anticipation and foot quickness are below average in man coverage and he doesn’t run well enough to stick with vertical challengers. He’s a fit with teams looking for a player who can hold his own on special teams and compete at nickel safety in short-zone cover concepts.”
He has embraced special teams, while learning how to play as a single-high safety at times, which he didn’t really do much in college.
“I love special teams,” said Jules. “I do what I can. I work hard on special teams. They know I’m willing to do whatever to at least get an opportunity. Give all I got, because that’s all I got.”
Kovacs said Jules has come a long way in playing both a single-high and even split safety concept where he has to cover down the field.
“If you’d have seen him in rookie mini-camp last year, that was probably the first time he was asked to pedal in years,” said Kovacs. “He’s gotten more and more comfortable. He’s looking better in that way just footwork wise and like the rest of these guys there is a ways to go. He’s a guy that continues to improve. He’s getting more comfortable being on the back end of the defense. One thing he’s always been good at is communicating and being in control and being confident with his calls. I’ve always appreciated that about him, and he’s a good tackler. He does some things well and just adds to the good competition that we have here on the back half of the room.”
That competition beyond the projected starters is still wide open, too, as Anthony has played only 11 defensive snaps in his brief NFL career and Anderson has never played a regular-season defensive snap in his career.
“I’ve told them since Day 1. I don’t care who you are, how you got here, I’ll give you the same promise my coach gave me 15 years ago – the best players will play,” said Kovacs. “Every spot is open. Let’s go compete and let’s see how good we can get, because competition is ultimately what’s going to make us better players.”