Bengals' McKinnley Jackson: Ramps up in rookie season
Rotowire
Jackson finished the 2024 regular season with 15 tackles (six solo), including 1.0 sacks, and one forced fumble across 13 games.
Jackson was the Bengals' third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he started the regular season on injured reserve due to a right knee sprain that he suffered during training camp. He made his NFL regular-season debut in Week 5 against the Ravens but didn't register his first tackle until Week 8 against the Eagles, and his lone sack came against Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Browns in Week 16. Jackson didn't play more than 30 defensive snaps in a game this season, but he and fellow rookie Kris Jenkins could be the Bengals' starting defensive tackles in 2025 if B.J. Hill opts to sign with another team during the offseason.
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Bengals' McKinnley Jackson: Cleared to make NFL debut
Rotowire
Jackson (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Jackson was activated from injured reserve Friday following full participation at each practice during Week 5 prep. The rookie is cleared to make his NFL debut but will likely serve as a depth piece versus Baltimore.
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Bengals' McKinnley Jackson: Questionable for Sunday
Rotowire
Jackson (knee) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Ravens.
The rookie defensive lineman was designated to return from Cincinnati's injured reserve list Wednesday and has practiced in full all week, so it appears likely that his NFL debut could come in Week 5. However, Jackson must be activated to the Bengals' active roster by the time of Sunday's contest to play. If that doesn't happen, expect Lawrence Guy to see increased work on the Bengals' defensive line.
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Bengals' McKinnley Jackson: Another defensive tackle to Cincy
Rotowire
The Bengals selected Jackson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 97th overall.
Cincinnati is focusing on the interior defensive line on Day 2, as Jackson joins Kris Jenkins among rookie Bengals who play in the trenches. Jackson, a Texas A&M product, was a four-year player for the Aggies who broke through as a junior and continued his upward trajectory in 2023. Unlike Jenkins, who is tall and lean by defensive tackle standards, Jackson is stout at 6-foot-1 and 326 pounds. The Bengals have added two different types of defensive tackles who can provide different functions behind the starting duo of B.J. Hill and Sheldon Rankins.
