Maybe D.J. Turner will end up representing the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games. He was named an alternate for the honor and the event. But whether or not he gets on the field and participates, what he’ll more than likely remember, and what his teammates are already aware of, is that Turner didn’t receive the honor outright.
At this point, Turner might see it as a consolation prize if he were to participate as a backup after others ahead of him miss the Pro Bowl Games for injuries, deep postseason runs and other reasons.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had some thoughts for Turner on the matter, and provided media members with an overview of his advice to Turner during a Dec. 24 news conference at Paycor Stadium.
“I thought D.J. should have made the Pro Bowl but, you know, I told him the other day, usually the first year that you should make it, you’re typically an alternate,” Burrow said. “Then, if you stack that year, they usually give it to you the next year. That’s what happened to me and a couple − you kind of see that across the league a little bit.”
From a season in which the Cincinnati defense labored week after week, Turner emerged as a leader and a player the team could end up building around. Turner’s played in all 15 games so far in 2025, including on Dec. 21 in Miami when Bengals coaches said he exhibited flu-like symptoms.
Turner, a 25-year-old, three-season NFL veteran, had two interceptions, 92 solo tackles and five tackles for loss through 15 games in 2025.
Derek Stingley Jr. (Houston Texans), Patrick Surtain II (Denver Broncos), Christian Gonzalez (New England Patriots) and Denzel Ward (Cleveland Browns) were elected to represent the AFC in this year’s Pro Bowl Games ahead of Turner and others.
Stingley Jr. and Surtain will act as starters.
Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor has for weeks stumped for Turner to be a Pro Bowl inclusion only to see the player, along with receiver Tee Higgins and receiver/kick return specialist Charlie Jones, as alternates. Receiver Ja’Marr Chase was the Bengals’ long Pro Bowl selection. The NFL and its teams announced the selections Dec. 23.
The 2026 Pro Bowl Games are Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco and will be televised live on ESPN.