A Bengals fifth-round pick in 2018, Phillips has developed into a reliable contributor and turned heads with his playmaking ability and a nose for the football ... Enters 2021 with 35 games played (10 starts) in his three Bengals seasons ... Played 12 games (eight starts) in 2020, missing four (Games 9-12) due to groin injury, and totaled 36 tackles, an INT, 12 PDs (second on team) and two FFs in 2020 ... Part of Bengals defense that in 2020 held opposing passers to just a 62.8 completion percentage (sixth in NFL) ... In 2019, he led the team in INTs (four) and tied for third in PDs (seven), despite playing in just eight games (one start) and seeing action on 108 (of possible 1070) defensive snaps ... In college, he set FBS career record with 12 total returns for TDs, tied FBS record with five career pick-sixes, and ranked sixth in FBS history with 3145 career kickoff return yards.
Career transactions: Selected by Cincinnati in fifth round of 2018 NFL Draft (170th overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 5-12-18.
2020 highlights: Played in 12 games (eight starts) ... Started seven at CB (Games 1-3,7, 13-16) and one at NCB (Game 4) ... Placed on Reserve/Injured (groin) on Nov. 14 (missing Games 9-12) and was activated prior to Game 13 vs. Dallas ... Totaled 36 tackles, one INT, 12 PDs and two FFs ... Also tallied two special teams tackles ... Had four tackles on Oct. 25 vs. Cleveland, and picked off a Baker Mayfield pass (21-yard return) to set up a TD drive for the Bengals ... Notched three PDs and five tackles (all solo) on Dec. 21 vs. Pittsburgh, including two that came on third downs and forced Steelers punts ... Logged season-high nine tackles on Dec. 27 at Houston, and added two PDs and two FFs (Texans recovered both).
Previous seasons: 2018—Played in 15 games, with one start at nickel DB ... Did not play Sept. 23 at Carolina ... Started in place of injured Dre Kirkpatrick Dec. 9 at L.A. Chargers ... Finished season with 19 total tackles on defense, including two PDs and one FF ... Recorded season-high five tackles along with a PD in two games, on Oct. 28 vs. Tampa Bay and on Dec. 23 at Cleveland ... On Oct. 14 vs. Pittsburgh, recorded a FF in the fourth quarter. 2019—Played in eight games, with one start ... Suffered left knee injury in Game 3 at Buffalo, and spent Games 4-11 on Reserve/Injured ... Led team in INTs (four) and tied for third in PDs (seven), despite playing 108 (of possible 1070) defensive snaps on the season ... Served as Bengals' No. 1 kickoff returner for Games 1-3, prior to injury ... On Sept. 22 at Buffalo, picked off Bills QB Josh Allen and returned it 27 yards, setting up a Bengals TD drive ... Placed on Reserve/Injured (left knee) on Sept. 26, then returned to active roster on Nov. 29 ... Picked off Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in Game 15 at Miami, and had three total PDs ... In season finale vs. Cleveland, recorded his first career multi-INT game when he picked off QB Baker Mayfield twice, including one that set up a TD drive, and also had an additional PD.
College: Spent five years (2013-17) at Western Michigan, with a redshirt season in '13 ... Played in 51 games, and totaled 127 tackles, including 13 for losses, with 47 PDs, 12 INTs, four FFs and three FRs ... Considered one of top playmakers in FBS history, he scored 14 career TDs in five different ways (five KOR, one PR, five INT, one FR, two receiving) ... Set FBS career record with 12 total returns for TDs, tied FBS record with five career pick-sixes, and ranked sixth in FBS history with 3145 career kickoff return yards ... In eight career games against teams from "Power Five" conferences, totaled 20 KORs for 726 yards (36.3) and three TDs, four INTs, one FF, a 67-yard FR for a TD, nine pass breakups and three TFLs ... Two-time MAC Special Teams Player of the Year (2016 and '17) ... Began career as WR, before switching to CB as a sophomore.
Personal: Hometown is Detroit, Mich. ... Attended Robichaud High School in Dearborn Heights, Mich. ... Played prep football and basketball.
