CINCINNATI (AP) -Leon Hall gets another chance.
The rookie cornerback is expected to make his second start Sunday for the Cincinnati Bengals, whose defense is depleted by injury and suspension heading into a pivotal game at Kansas City.
Starter Johnathan Joseph, a first-round pick last year, will serve a one-game suspension from the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy, the result of his arrest for marijuana possession earlier this year.
Hall, the Bengals’ first-round pick this year out of Michigan, started the season opener, when Joseph was recovering from a foot injury. He has been an extra cornerback on passing downs in the last three games.
It’s a critical game for Cincinnati (1-3), which can’t afford to fall farther behind in the AFC North. And the rookie cornerback knows he’ll be targeted when the Chiefs throw the ball.
“I hope so,” Hall said Thursday. “It’s a good thing to have them not throw your way, kind of a respect thing. At the same time, you don’t get to make interceptions and breakups. I hope they come after me and test me. I feel I’ve had a good week of practice.”
Hall leads the team with two interceptions – he picked off Tom Brady in a 34-13 loss to New England heading into the Bengals’ bye week – and has knocked down four passes, tied for second on the team.
Not bad.
Hall also has given up some big plays. His inexperience showed during a 51-45 loss in Cleveland, when the entire defense – rookies and veterans alike – lost their composure during one of the worst showings in franchise history.
“I think Leon has experienced maybe a little bit more of the ups and downs of a rookie than I expected him to,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “He’s got all the tools we want, so he’ll have a fine career. He’s learning on the fly a little bit.
“He’s gotten thrown into the fire right away, which is a good thing. He has the makeup both mentally and physically to do that. He’ll come out of this, as I told him, a much, much better player than what he was when he went into it.”
Part of the problem is that he’s not the only rookie trying to figure things out. Fourth-round safety Marvin White and seventh-round safety Chinedum Ndukwe have played in all four games as well.
One of the NFL’s lowest-ranked defenses spent the bye week trying to get on the same page of the playbook.
“We’ve got a group of those three (rookies), and they’ve gotten a chance to play some football,” Lewis said. “In the bye, you have a way to kind of pull back from it and look at what you’ve done.”
Hall figured his first season would be a struggle at times, as it is for every rookie cornerback. He gives himself a decent mark for the first four games.
“I think I did OK,” he said. “I think I did all right. I set my expectations high. I realize that sometimes corners do get beat or make some bad plays. Even if I make that one (bad) play, I’m still mad at myself for doing it. I think I can do a lot better.”
Chiefs cornerback Ty Law, who also went to Michigan, understands Hall’s plight.
“In the NFL, everybody is fast,” said Law, a five-time Pro Bowl player. “Everybody is quicker. If he stays strong-willed and mentally tough, he’ll be fine. Everyone is going to take his lumps in this game.”
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