Bengals S Taylor Mays playing LB
Veteran safety Taylor Mays has struggled in coverage dating back to his days at Southern Cal. However, the 6’3, 220 lb. Mays has remained a safety throughout his football career.
That may be changing.
According to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, May is currently playing linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals.
When Emmanuel Lamur went down in a preseason game last week, the Bengals suddenly had the need for a linebacker and the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Joe Reedy reports the Bengals may be forced to use Mays there.
“Taylor’s been playing those spots since he’s been here,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis told Patra. “This is not experiment time. We’re trying to get ready for the Bears.”
Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga, who was Mays teammate at Southern Cal, tells Geoff Hobson of the Bengals official website Mays “clones” Lamur in the nickle formation, which is where Mays will likely see action.
The 25-year old Mays was originally selected in the second round of the 2010 draft by the San Francisco 49ers, but lasted just one season. He joined the Bengals in 2011.
As a backup in 2012, Mays played in all 16 games, recording 22 tackles and a fumble recovery.
The Bengals will take on the Chicago Bears in their season opener Sunday. Kickoff from Soldier Field in Chicago is at 1:00 pm EST.