Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle gave the Miami Dolphins a heads-up this week that he probably didn’t mean to — telling reporters exactly how the Bengals plan to read quarterback Malik Willis before Sunday’s game in Miami.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Battle described a physical tell he said Willis shows before releasing a throw. “He has a little slight little tap before every throw though, so I feel like we could use that as a key to break on the ball. He likes to tap the ball before he throws it, or he takes his hand off, and that that gives the read the break,” Battle said.
The comment amounted to a scouting report delivered in public, days before the two teams meet. Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley addressed it Friday, playing down how unusual the habit is while still welcoming the intel.
“It’s a timing and rhythm thing with a lot of guys, and there’s a lot of them that do that, but any opponent that wants to share our tendencies with us, we’ll take any time,” Hafley told reporters.
Fans reacted quickly and bluntly on social media, questioning why Battle would hand the opposing team information that might help its quarterback avoid an interception.
One user on X wrote, “Why the f—k would you say this to the media.” Another posted, “Why would you reveal this,” while a third joked, “He should go ahead and tell the media all the Bengals’ defensive audibles too. Just make it easy.”
Battle, a third-round pick out of Alabama in the 2023 NFL Draft, is in his fourth season with Cincinnati and has not missed a game in his career. He has one interception this season — and seven for his career — to go with 25 tackles and two passes defensed so far in 2025.
The Bengals enter Sunday’s matchup at 1 p.m. ET looking to snap a two-game losing streak after opening the season 2-0. Cincinnati will face an 0-4 Dolphins team and Willis, whose throwing tendency is now public knowledge for anyone paying attention.
