Darqueze Dennard on lack of playing time: 'Frustrating but everything happens for a reason'

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard has only taken part in 49 snaps on defense this season... and that actually spans over the course of three games... a blowout against the Tennessee Titans earned 16 snaps, then 18 against the Indianapolis Colts and 15 against the New Orleans Saints. Essentially, when Dennard is playing it means that the Bengals are playing during a blowout (either ends of that scenario) or that Leon Hall and/or Terence Newman are hurt against the Saints.

Either way, it wasn't the situation that Dennard had expected when the Cincinnati Bengals drafted him in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. It's a situation that's predictably frustrating, but it's not a bad frustration... if that makes sense. He wants to play but understands the situation that Cincinnati is in with Leon Hall, Terence Newman, Adam Jones and even Dre Kirkpatrick, who has played more than 100 snaps on defense this year.

"It is kind of frustrating, but at the same time, everything happens for a reason. I'm big on that," Dennard said via ESPN. "Of course everybody wants to come in and be the Deion Sanders and play a full game and have a number of interceptions, but that's not how it is. Everybody has different learning experiences. I just have to continue to control what I can and put all my faith in the man upstairs."

When Dennard has played this season, he's had his "rookie moments" but has performed collectively well regardless. Last week against the Saints, Dennard allowed one completion (on three targets) for five yards receiving and an opposing passer rating of 42.4 (15 defensive snaps). Pro Football Focus gave him the best score in pass coverage (+1.3) among defensive backs last week, and the third-best overall grade (+1.3).