Bengals Rookie Kris Jenkins Jr. Says He Played Half Of Michigan’s Natty Season With Zero Vision In His Right Eye

Adversity struck immediately for Cincinnati Bengals rookie second-rounder Kris Jenkins Jr. at the NFL level. The former Michigan defensive tackle needed surgery on his injured thumb and the first two games of this season to recover from it, leaving the Bengals very thin at a position of dire need. With Cincinnati off to a third straight 0-2 start and desperate for a win — never mind stout interior run defenders — Jenkins is set to suck it up for Monday Night Football and play with a club on his hand against the Washington Commanders. Main bullet points from Jenkins' backstory consist of his father being a former NFL star, prestigious recruiting status, and a stellar college career in Ann Arbor. One thing me or probably anyone else did not know is that, when the Wolverines won the national championship last season, Jenkins was shining in the trenches despite being able to see out of only one eye. No joke. Listen to him explain here: https://twitter.com/ByJayMorrison/status/1837223865510166909 https://twitter.com/Trags/status/1837224879482896761 Jenkins didn't divulge many details, or exactly how it happened. He gave a sort of muddled answer and I can't for the life of me figure out what he said. All I know is, I loved the Bengals' draft — I am biased as a fan of the team — but I love it even more now that I know Jenkins possesses this level of toughness. The Bengals might've been a touch bold by putting rookie seventh-rounder Daijahn Anthony on the field for a 4th and 16 play versus the Chiefs last Sunday, resulting in a terrible, untimely pass interference penalty to set up Kansas City's winning field goal. Nevertheless, I'm still bullish on Cincinnati's rookie core. In addition to Jenkins likely seeing some significant action on Monday, first-round tackle Amarius Mims could suit up as well. Whether he starts at right tackle over Trent Brown or subs in for some heavier formations to help establish the run better, the man is a freak of nature. https://twitter.com/FOX19Joe/status/1836824973895258360 Combine all that with the continuing emergence of third-round wide receiver Jermaine Burton and the return of Tee Higgins, and it sure looks like the Bengals are going to do their annual get-off-the-mat routine to be big players in the AFC playoff picture. Of course I just jinxed the hell out of them, but usually Joe Burrow balls out enough to back me up. https://twitter.com/Trags/status/1836854679449293157 https://twitter.com/pauldehnerjr/status/1837219631251214804 Look out, rest of NFL. WHO DEY NATION COMIN' IN HOT.