Josh Newton

A fifth-round Bengals draft pick last April, Newton earned a roster spot as a rookie and played all 17 games in 2024 ... He was thrust into a starting role following CB DJ Turner II's injury in Game 11, and started each of the final six contests ... Finished rookie campaign with 29 tackles (25 solos), one TFL, seven PDs and one INT ... He spent his final two collegiate seasons (2022-23) at Texas Christian University, where he started all 27 games he played in and recorded 24 PDs with four INTs ... Served as a team captain in 2023, and in '22 he ranked second in the Big 12 Conference in pass breakups (12) while helping lead the Horned Frogs to the College Football Playoff National Championship game ... Began his career at the University of Louisiana-Monroe (2019-21).

A fifth-round Bengals draft pick last April, Newton earned a roster spot as a rookie and played all 17 games in 2024 ... He was thrust into a starting role following CB DJ Turner II's injury in Game 11, and started each of the final six contests ... Finished rookie campaign with 29 tackles (25 solos), one TFL, seven PDs and one INT ... He spent his final two collegiate seasons (2022-23) at Texas Christian University, where he started all 27 games he played in and recorded 24 PDs with four INTs ... Served as a team captain in 2023, and in '22 he ranked second in the Big 12 Conference in pass breakups (12) while helping lead the Horned Frogs to the College Football Playoff National Championship game ... Began his career at the University of Louisiana-Monroe (2019-21).

Career transactions:

Selected by Cincinnati in fifth round of NFL Draft (149th overall) on 4-27-24 ... Signed with Bengals on 5-10-24.

Pro career:

2024—Played in all 17 games with six starts at CB as a rookie ... Started each of final six games ... Totaled 29 tackles (25 solos), seven PDs and one INT ... Also had two special teams tackles ... Made NFL debut on Sept. 8 vs. New England, lining up for eight special teams snaps ... Saw extended action in Nov. 17 game at L.A. Chargers following CB DJ Turner's injury, and recorded three tackles and two PDs; broke up deep pass on third down to force Chargers punt on opening drive of second half ... Played all 60 defensive snaps and logged two solo tackles in second straight start on Dec. 9 at Dallas ... Recorded first career INT on Dec. 15 at Tennessee, picking off QB Mason Rudolph and returning it 12 yards early in fourth quarter ... Had five tackles with a TFL on Dec. 28 vs. Denver; tackled WR Marvin Mims for one-yard loss to force third down in overtime ... Logged season-high seven tackles (six solos) and a PD on Jan. 4 at Pittsburgh.

College:

Spent two seasons at Texas Christian (2022-23), following three seasons played at Louisiana-Monroe ('19-21) ... Redshirted as true freshman in 2018 at Louisiana-Monroe ... At TCU, totaled 68 tackles, 24 PDs and four INTs ... In 2023, was voted a team captain, led team with nine pass breakups and had one INT (returned 53 yards) ... Started all 15 games in 2022, helping TCU earn program's first College Football Playoff berth and advance to CFP National Championship game ... Ranked second in Big 12 Conference in PBUs (15) and had three INTs ... Played in 31 games at Louisiana-Monroe.

High school/personal:

Hometown is Monroe, La. ... Attended Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, where he earned first-team all-district honors at WR as a senior in 2017 ... Caught 35 passes for 733 yards (20.9 average) and 11 TDs in senior season ... Majored in kinesiology at Louisiana-Monroe ... Nickname is "Fig" Newton.

Last Updated July 2025