Jay Tufele

Tufele has provided DL depth for Bengals since being acquired on waivers prior to 2022 season ... Played 10 games in 2023, recording 11 tackles ... Played seven games for Bengals during 2022 regular season with two starts, tallying 16 tackles (six solos, two TFLs) ... Two starts came at NT in Weeks 8-9, when DJ Reader was working his way back from knee injury ... Also saw action in Wild Card Playoff win over Baltimore ... A fourth-round draft pick by Jacksonville in 2021, he played in four games for Jaguars as rookie and registered two tackles.

Tufele has provided DL depth for Bengals since being acquired on waivers prior to 2022 season ... Played 10 games in 2023, recording 11 tackles ... Played seven games for Bengals during 2022 regular season with two starts, tallying 16 tackles (six solos, two TFLs) ... Two starts came at NT in Weeks 8-9, when DJ Reader was working his way back from knee injury ... Also saw action in Wild Card Playoff win over Baltimore ... A fourth-round draft pick by Jacksonville in 2021, he played in four games for Jaguars as rookie and registered two tackles.

Career transactions:

Selected by Jacksonville in fourth round of 2021 NFL Draft (106th overall) ... Signed by Jaguars on 5-21-21 ... Waived by Jaguars on 8-30-22 ... Acquired by Cincinnati on waivers from the Jaguars on 8-31-22.

Pro career:

2021—Played in four games as a rookie for Jacksonville ... Recorded two tackles (one solo) ... Placed on Reserve/Injured due to a hand injury and missed five games (Oct. 31-Nov. 28) ... Made NFL debut on Oct. 10 vs. Tennessee ... Returned to the active roster and logged first career assisted tackle on Dec. 5 at the L.A. Rams ... Missed Jan. 2 contest at New England (Reserve/COVID-19).

2022—Played in seven games (two starts at NT) and one postseason game in first Bengals season ... Inactive for five games ... Active/DNP (coaches' decision) in four games ... Waived by Jacksonville at final cuts, then signed with Cincinnati on Aug. 31 ... Recorded 16 tackles (six solos) with two TFLs ... Made season debut on Oct. 16 at New Orleans, tallying six stops with a TFL; brought down RB Alvin Kamara for two-yard loss in fourth quarter ... Started at NT in Game 8 at Cleveland and Game 9 vs. Carolina ... Played five defensive snaps in Wild Card Playoff vs. Baltimore, recording two assisted tackles.

2023—Played in 10 games ... Active/DNP for one game (Game 2 vs. Baltimore), and inactive for six games ... Lined up for 96 defensive snaps and eight special teams snaps ... Logged 11 tackles (four solos) ... Had five combined tackles over final two games, with three on Dec. 31 at Kansas City and two on Jan. 7 vs. Cleveland.

College:

Played two seasons at Southern California (2018-19) ... Redshirted his freshman year in 2017, then opted out of junior season in 2020 to prepare for NFL Draft ... Played in 25 career games (18 starts), and posted 65 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 11 TFLs, one PD, one FF and one FR ... Earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019, after receiving second-team recognition in '18 ... Returned a fumble 48 yards for a TD at Utah in 2018.

High school/personal:

Hometown is Salt Lake City, Utah ... Attended Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah ... Missed his 2016 senior season due to a foot injury ... Recorded 57 tackles with 10.5 sacks as a junior in 2015 ... Also played rugby ... Majored in sociology at Southern California ... Last name is pronounced "too-FELL-ay."

Last updated July 2024