Cincinnati Bengals Rookie Will Miss Season Opener To Have Surgery

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. tried to power through a thumb injury this week before deciding to shut it down.

And open it up.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor announced today that Jenkins will need surgery on his right thumb.

Cincinnati Bengals Rookie Kris Jenkins Jr. May Not Miss Much Time Despite Surgery

But Taylor said the timeline for Jenkins’ return is not as ominous as it sounds.

“He could play,” Taylor said. “He could manage that. So it’s just better to not play him this week, allow him to have the surgery, and then we’ll just see how it goes starting next week.”

The Bengals drafted Jenkins in the second round to address the team’s biggest position of need.

Cincinnati used picks in back-to-back rounds to bolster its defensive line, adding McKinnley Jackson in the third round with the 97th overall pick after taking Jenkins at No. 42.

Jackson is on Injured Reserve with a knee injury and will miss at least the first four games.

Taylor said Jenkins returning from surgery to play in Week 12 at Kansas City “would not be off the table.”

With Jenkins and Jackson out Sunday, the defensive tackle rotation will include B.J. Hill, Sheldon Rankins, Zach Carter and Jay Tufele.

It’s been a troubling couple of days for the team, as Tee Higgins came down with a hamstring injury one day after Jenkins hurt his thumb.

Higgins was not at practice during the portion open to the media today.

Roll those two situations into the uncertainty surrounding Ja’Marr Chase’s availability due to his contract situation, and it’s not the ideal way to roll into a season opener.

But Taylor remains optimistic.

“(We’re as prepared) as any team in the league could be,” he said. “We’re on it. Our coaches are on it. Our players are on it. We’ve got really smart guys that can handle a lot.

“Whether injuries happen during the week or Saturday or pregame warmup or first play of the game, we’ve seen it all,” Taylor continued. “I think that’s the benefit of having a staff that’s been together for so long. We can pinpoint ‘this has happened’ at any point in the week. And our players can, too. So they know how to adjust. We’ve got a really good group that is ready for anything.”