Cincinnati Bengals fans might want to get to know the name PJ Jules.
Jules, undrafted last year and a member of the Bengals’ practice squad, has come on strong this summer and shown in preseason action that it isn’t a practice fluke.
In a practice over the weekend, Jules grabbed an interception, which continued a strong training camp showing that included a team-high five tackles in the first preseason game.
The wildest part with Jules? He was just learning how to backpedal last summer.
“He came from back-side quarters (coverage) and made a speed turn and made a read to the ball. A big play in the crucial part of the lock-out drill,” Bengals safeties coach Jordan Kovacs told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “He’s come a long way. He’s one of these guys who played all over the field in college but was never truly a safety. So he learned from the ground up. How to backpedal, how to be a safety. And he’s still learning. He just loves football.”
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The Bengals continue to look for the surefire backup names behind Geno Stone and Jordan Battle. Daijahn Anthony and Tycen Anderson are the top candidates, but the noise Jules is making and limited roster spots guarantee nothing.
Case in point, on Saturday, Jules knocked Anthony from the starting lineup during practice while Stone was out.
While it’s still early, Jules is making what seemed like an obvious position at final cuts quite a bit more interesting.
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