Adversity struck immediately for Cincinnati Bengals rookie second-rounder Kris Jenkins Jr. at the NFL level. The former Michigan defensive tackle needed surgery on his injured thumb and the first two games of this season to recover from it, leaving the Bengals very thin at a position of dire need.
With Cincinnati off to a third straight 0-2 start and desperate for a win — never mind stout interior run defenders — Jenkins is set to suck it up for Monday Night Football and play with a club on his hand against the Washington Commanders.
Main bullet points from Jenkins’ backstory consist of his father being a former NFL star, prestigious recruiting status, and a stellar college career in Ann Arbor. One thing me or probably anyone else did not know is that, when the Wolverines won the national championship last season, Jenkins was shining in the trenches despite being able to see out of only one eye. No joke. Listen to him explain here:
#Bengals rookie DT Kris Jenkins when asked about playing with a club on his right hand.
"I'll be good. I played last year with one eye."
He didn't go into details, but when I asked if his vision is back to 20/20 now, he said "Absolutely not."
— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) September 20, 2024
Kris Jenkins Jr. says he played half the season last year at Michigan without vision in his right eye. So playing with club on his right hand isn’t as big a deal. pic.twitter.com/DapgYuhA2b
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) September 20, 2024
Jenkins didn’t divulge many details, or exactly how it happened. He gave a sort of muddled answer and I can’t for the life of me figure out what he said. All I know is, I loved the Bengals’ draft — I am biased as a fan of the team — but I love it even more now that I know Jenkins possesses this level of toughness.
The Bengals might’ve been a touch bold by putting rookie seventh-rounder Daijahn Anthony on the field for a 4th and 16 play versus the Chiefs last Sunday, resulting in a terrible, untimely pass interference penalty to set up Kansas City’s winning field goal. Nevertheless, I’m still bullish on Cincinnati’s rookie core. In addition to Jenkins likely seeing some significant action on Monday, first-round tackle Amarius Mims could suit up as well. Whether he starts at right tackle over Trent Brown or subs in for some heavier formations to help establish the run better, the man is a freak of nature.
Big week for Amarius Mims. Could this be the week the Bengals first round pick makes his much anticipated NFL debut? pic.twitter.com/ZRAZ6LjhhN
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) September 19, 2024
Combine all that with the continuing emergence of third-round wide receiver Jermaine Burton and the return of Tee Higgins, and it sure looks like the Bengals are going to do their annual get-off-the-mat routine to be big players in the AFC playoff picture. Of course I just jinxed the hell out of them, but usually Joe Burrow balls out enough to back me up.
Jermaine Burton, who Joe Burrow says has gotten “exponentially better”, says he had a 30-minute conversation with Zack Moss and learned a lot. pic.twitter.com/OuACKNMVHw
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) September 19, 2024
Tee Higgins leaving little doubt he will return to the high level he was playing in camp when he makes his expected season debut on MNF:
“I’m back. I’m 100 percent.”
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) September 20, 2024
Look out, rest of NFL. WHO DEY NATION COMIN’ IN HOT.
