Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Kris Jenkins Jr. is a key part of the plan for the franchise in 2025 and beyond.
Drafted in the second round in 2024, Jenkins played in 15 games as a rookie but battled nagging injuries at times, including playing through a broken thumb.
Ahead of training camp, Jenkins told Bengals radio broadcaster Dan Hoard that he’s back to full strength: “It’s been a lot easier. The strength is back and it isn’t bothering me at all.”
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There are a lot of positives going in Jenkins’ direction when it comes to sophomore projections. He showed encouraging flashes as a rookie, which is saying something given the struggles of the unit around him.
Now, Jenkins is healthy, isn’t coming out of a tedious draft process while trying to adapt to new surroundings and has the standard year invested in professional nutritionists and training. Plus, again, he’s healthy.
Good thing, too. The Bengals brought back B.J. Hill and added T.J. Slaton in free agency. But they’re expecting major leaps from Jenkins and fellow second-year upstart McKinnley Jackson while embracing a youth movement.
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