The Cincinnati Bengals made a surprising decision ahead of the must-win Week 7 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers by making cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt a healthy scratch.
Taylor-Britt was a starter for the Bengals over the first three seasons of his career after being a second-round pick in 2022.
However, after showing some promise early on in his career, Taylor-Britt has been struggling mightily in recent years, and so much so he has been pulled from multiple games over the years.
Taylor-Britt's struggles have bled into 2025, which led to the cornerback losing his starting job after entering the season as Cincinnati's No. 1 cornerback.
So, what's behind Taylor-Britt being a healthy scratch?
Here's what we know.
Why is Cam Taylor-Britt inactive?
The Bengals announced that Taylor-Britt is inactive because of a coach's decision, which confirms he isn't dealing with an injury.
Naturally, that has sparked trade speculation, with the idea that the Bengals are holding Taylor-Britt out because he's about to be dealt and they don't want him suffering an injury against the Steelers.
But it may simply be a result of Taylor-Britt's struggles this season. He is giving up a completion rate of 75% and a passer rating of 146.7, both of which are the worst numbers of his career.
That kind of performance isn't likely to draw much interest on the trade market, which makes it hard to fathom that his absence is trade-related.
Regardless of the reason, Taylor-Britt's downward spiral is bad news for him in what is a contract year.
The Bengals cornerback could've set himself up for a nice payday in 2026, but now he's tracking toward earning a prove-it deal, at best, next offseason.
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