In Turner\u2019s recent interview with Ari Meirov on the \u201cNFL Spotlight<\/a>\u201d podcast, Turner spoke about the most recent stutter in his career, getting benched ahead of week one last season. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen I Pick Up Where I Left Off Last Year, I’m Trying To Go\u201d Nov 23, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals place kicker Evan McPherson (2) celebrates with cornerback DJ Turner II (20) after kicking a field goal during the first half against the New England Patriots at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images<\/p>\n “I appreciate Coach Zac [Taylor]<\/a> doing this. A lot of times in the league, if you get benched, it is what it is,\u201d quoted the former Michigan cornerback.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBut he wanted to call me in. So he called me in, and he was like, \u2018I just want to tell you, we’re gonna decide to go with somebody else for the first week. It was only a first week thing, but, you know, stay locked in.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I just told them, I said, \u2018Alright, bet, but I’m gonna get it back.\u2019 That’s all I said, \u2018you know, when I get it back. I’m not hearing that I’m coming off the field.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I pick up where I left off last year, I’m trying to go [and not be taken out of the team].\u2019 He was like, \u2018I’m 100% with you.\u2019 So then I got a game-winning pick against the Browns.\u201d<\/p>\n Turner\u2019s first of two interceptions of last season came from a pass dealt by eventual Bengals<\/a> quarterback Joe Flacco in the last 90 seconds of a narrow 17-16 Cincinnati win<\/a> in Week 1.\u00a0<\/p>\n Flacco\u2019s pass to Cedric Tillman could not be reeled in, which gave Turner a split-second to make a diving snag and get the Bengals off on a 1-0 start.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd after that, there’s been nothing else,\u201d\u00a0Turner said on the show<\/p>\n![\"cornerback](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01knpt53xafxjyn5v1h6.jpg\" "\\"cornerback")
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