The Cincinnati Bengals will rely on some key rookies to help the middle of the defense in 2024.
One of those, third-rounder McKinnley Jackson, seems to be well on his way back from an injury, too.
Pro Football Network’s Jay Morrison recently wrote the following about Jackson’s around the team: “Rookie third-round pick McKinnley Jackson is no longer using crutches to get around but is still wearing a large brace on his right knee.”
Removing crutches from the equation seems like good news for Jackson, whose injury that saw him carted off a field resulted in roster moves on August 8.
Jackson, alongside second-rounder Kris Jenkins, is a big part of the plan for a Bengals team attempting to compensate for the loss of DJ Reader in free agency.
Both rookies have a shot at playing time on the interior next season in a rotation with B.J. Hill and free-agent signee Sheldon Rankins.
It still remains unclear if Jackson will be ready in time for Week 1. But with the edge suffering a rash of injuries too — the latest is Myles Murphy — the team needs him in the rotation on the front seven, if possible.
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