The Bengals have several defensive backs heading for free agency next month, including longtime starting safety Reggie Nelson.
Nelson had to leave the team’s playoff loss to the Steelers with an ankle injury and hopes that he didn’t spend the final moments of his final game with the Bengals watching from the sideline.
“Most definitely not,” Nelson said, via the team’s website. “They know that. Everybody knows that. I would love to be a Bengal. I did my part. I played football. It’s time to handle business and we’ll go from there.”
Nelson said he’s excited about the return of defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle, who worked in Cincinnati before jumping to Miami for an ultimately unsuccessful stint as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, and is coming off a year that saw him tie Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters for the league lead in interceptions. He was also solid against the run, which should create interest in his services around the league in the event the Bengals decide to prioritize cornerback Adam Jones or safety George Iloka in the next couple of weeks.