Nickel back Jalen Davis, coming off a season he played nearly the same amount of snaps he had during his five previous seasons combined as a Bengal, announced to the world Tuesday that he's staying away from free agency and re-upping for this year.

Coming two weeks after the big birthday, you could say life begins at 30.

After all, if the season began today, Davis would be the Opening Day slot cornerback after making his first three NFL starts last season.

"That's what we're striving for and working for," said Davis Tuesday night from Phoenix, where he has a home and is working out this offseason. "Very exciting times for the Davis family."

And for a guy like Chuck Burks, the Bengals cornerbacks coach who had him in Miami during that long-ago 2019 preseason Davis was among the final cuts in the journey that led him to the Bengals in 2020.

"Most consistent player I've ever coached," Burks said Tuesday. "I have 100% trust in him. He is truly a testament of what it means to have resilience."

When Cam Taylor-Britt was lost for the season, Marco Wilson had a hard time staying healthy and Josh Newton never got his sophomore year in gear, the Bengals trusted Davis for the first time in his NFL career. They looked to him in the last seven games after spending all but two games in the last two seasons on the practice squad.

Davis delivered 270 plays of competence and, according to Pro Football Focus, an impressive 120 coverage snaps in the slot. Targeted 13 times, he gave up no touchdowns, snared his first NFL interception (naturally in Miami), while allowing a passer rating of 55.6, lowest among all slot corners with at least 120 coverage plays in the slot.

Meanwhile, the Bengals played their best defense of season, allowing fewer than 18 points per game in those last seven weeks.

"Opportunity. Just the opportunity to get out there," Davis said. "It's a blessing to keep playing, I tell you that much. I'm happy to be back. There's no place I'd rather be. I love the team. I love the coaches. We've got a great shot here."

Davis is the only defensive back from the last great shot here, when he took three snaps on special teams in Super Bowl LVI, and knows a return trip to Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium for this season's Super Bowl is driving the Bengals' off-season agenda.

"That's the plan," Davis said.

It turns out he's one of the first steps in the plan when he's expected to sign his contract Friday before coaches and scouts swarm next week's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. One of those coaches is another reason Davis is returning.

"I love Chuck. I've known him since my second year in the league," Davis said of Burks. "He keeps it real with you. He knows some ball."

With Dax Hill and DJ Turner II his outside cornerbacks, Burks sounds like he has a security blanket in the slot.

"(Davis) makes the people around him better and made us a better defense," Burks said. "His impact goes far beyond stats. You can't quantify it, but you can feel it when he is out there with our defense."