Initially, Apple was signed in 2021 as a reserve option for Cincinnati’s secondary, but he took over as the full-time starter when Trae Waynes went down with a hamstring injury. That role was again solidified this past season when Chidobe Awuzie went down with an ACL injury in Week 8. In his two seasons, he started 31 of his 40 regular-season appearances for the Bengals.

A 2016 first-round pick, Apple has five career interceptions along with 335 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and 51 passes defended. He has also played for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers over his seven NFL seasons.

There is some history between Apple and new teammate Tyreek Hill. Apple called Hill “a baby” on Twitter after his Bengals beat the Kansas City Chiefs to reach the Super Bowl during the 2021 season, and tweeted an offer to buy Hill and then-Kansas City teammate Mecole Hardman tickets to the game. Before the Dolphins and Bengals played last season, Hill said he was excited to play against Apple, adding he owed the cornerback payback for his trash talk. Hill caught 10 passes for 160 yards in a Dolphins loss. The All-Pro receiver made light of their purported beef once news of Apple’s signing came out. On Saturday, Hill posted on Twitter that “Monday practice gone be fun”.