Bengals second-round pick Kris Jenkins Jr. literally joins the club when he makes his NFL debut at defensive tackle Monday night (8:15-Cincinnati's Channel 9) against the Commanders at Paycor Stadium.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor ruled out starting defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (hamstring) and is waiting to see how the hamstring of the other starting defensive tackle B.J. Hill responds over the weekend. Neither practiced this week after getting hurt in Kansas City last Sunday.
Hill is listed as doubtful, but Taylor said, "Jenkins is good to go."
Lawrence Guy, the 14th-year defensive tackle picked up Tuesday, didn't have a training camp but Taylor says he looked good during the week and is rolling him out for his 178th NFL game.
That's still not close to the 292 combined games in the league played by Jenkins' dad Kris (108) and uncle Cullen (184). When Kris does play No. 1, he'll be doing it with a tightly wrapped cast on his hand after having thumb surgery a few weeks ago.
"There's not a complex answer," Taylor said. "He's got one hand. Try the best to be a physical player. We'll see how it goes. We'll manage it the best we can."
Jenkins went a full practice for the first time Saturday since the surgery and is listed as questionable.
"It's not a setback, it's a challenge," Jenkins said this week. "Are you going to face it head on, or are you going to crumble?"
Jenkins grew up in the NFL, and he's got a calmness that shows it. He stunned a group of reporters when he offhandedly revealed on Friday that playing with a club is nothing like playing with one eye. Jenkins said he played half his senior season last year at Michigan with vision in one eye and covered one with his hand to show what was left to see.
"At this point, it's what's up next? What's the next challenge?" Jenkins said. "I'm not really worried about it. I just have to change up my technique … Have to find a way."
Jenkins found a way to become one of Michigan's greatest leaders and the 49th pick in the draft, and he was really beginning to come on in the preseason after getting a sack in Chicago.
"Two, three, maybe four," said Jenkins, when asked how many times he's played with a club. "I'll try to do my job and be the best version of myself that I can be. Do whatever my coaches and teammates need."
Everyone knows the assignment. The Commanders are coming off a win over the Giants in which they ran for 215 yards with their rookie running quarterback Jayden Daniels.
"They live through the run game," Jenkins said "We have to be smart how we attack him."
Jenkins says Guy has fit right in.
"He's already teaching us a lot of stuff," Jenkins said. "His energy resonates in the room already."
Jenkins gets two teams from his past right away. His uncle played the last of his 13 seasons in Washington. Next week, the Bengals go to Carolina, where his dad was a stalwart while going to three Pro Bowls.
But Kris Jr. says he's not loading up on a lot of tickets for Monday. He says he's saving that for "the birthday game." He turns 23 four days after the Bengals host the Ravens Oct. 6.
SLANTS AND SCREENS
Taylor says he's positive about safety Vonn Bell (back) even though he didn't work the last two days, but Bell is listed as questionable as they gauge the next 24 hours ….
Rookie right tackle Amarius Mims (pectoral) went full Saturday for what is believed to be the first time since his Aug. 10 injury and isn't listed as questionable or doubtful …
Wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring), who talked about it Friday, went full for the first time in two weeks Saturday and is good for his 2024 debut …
Tight end Tanner Hudson (knee) is out for the second straight game …
The Bengals are looking to even their record against rookie quarterbacks under Taylor at 4-4. Their three game-winning streak against Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence, Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett and Baltimore's Anthony Brown was snapped last year by Houston's C.J. Stroud …
