CINCINNATI — The biggest assignment head coach Zac Taylor had for his rookies Friday when he met with them for the first time on the practice field inside the IEL structure was get to know your teammates.
Specifically, get to know the veterans and get your questions ready for when you join them on Monday for the first full week of offseason practice when the entire roster is together.
“You get a chance when you feel comfortable somewhere,” Taylor said. “I’ve been through this as an undrafted rookie free agent in the hotel with my fellow rookies and you get a chance to create some bonds there and then they grow from there.
“Then you meet the guys in your position room and then you meet the guys in the unit and then I advise these guys, ‘Hey, look over the roster and get to know who these veterans are because these guys have made a lot of plays for us and they have earned your respect even if you don’t know who they are yet.'” So, that’s kind of their homework for the weekend.”
And the coaches get their first pair of live eyes on the rookies so they can hit the ground running a bit more this week.
“Yeah, it’s better than doing it the first time next week when they were in with all the veterans but you’ve seen how we’ve kind of phased out the weekend and it’s just a quick workout and again, just get those jitters out for them and get a chance to see him move around a little bit which is good,” Taylor said.
On Thursday and Friday, the rookies came into town shared meals and got some of the kinks out on Friday morning while also getting accustomed to two of the three Bengals campuses, Paycor Stadium and the IEL indoor practice structure.
McKinnley Jackson (68) and Kris Jenkins (90) get their first practice with Bengals Friday. pic.twitter.com/k4tXdwXrx0
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) May 10, 2024
This week, the rookies are expected to join the veterans outside, weather permitting, for a chance to run through drills and blend in.
The only draft pick not practicing is tight end Erick All, still rehabbing following ACL reconstruction in November.
In all, there are 10 rookie draft picks and 14 unsigned college free agents joining the 63 veterans, bringing the total to 87 players on the roster.
None of the rookies made a bigger or brighter impression than defensive tackle Kris Jenkins. The second round pick out of Michigan – where culture is just as big a deal as it is in Cincinnati – made it clear that he’s all in on living and learning the “Who Dey” culture.
“I could kind of get a sense of that feeling how big the culture is here and not really just on the field but off the field as well,” Jenkins told me. “And I’m looking forward to really dipping my feet into that culture, getting set into that because I could just I have a feeling like coming from where I came from how important really how important this Bengals Who Dey means to everybody here and I really want to make a positive impact.”
Who Dey has been the galvanizing chant and vibe of the Bengals for 43 years since Cincinnati’s first Super Bowl trip. When that chant breaks out, it unites Bengals fans of all ages across the globe.
Jenkins has been a Bengal for less than a month and already it means something special to him.
“What does Who Dey mean to me? It means everything to me,” Jenkins told me. “Like Who Dey brought me in here, accepted me, Who Dey Nation. So, for me, that’s why I say it every day with a smile on my face because it means everything to me, because they believed in me. So, I want to give back to Who Dey.”
Jenkins speaks like that super-excited freshman on the first weekend of college. But don’t mistake enthusiasm for being in awe. When Jenkins stepped on the field for the first time Friday, it was apparent that he earned that nickname “The Mutant” because he was already flying around the cones and the markers on the field, impressing D-Line coach Marion Hobby.
Other takeaways:
Yes, he is expected to be a big body in the middle. But he’s no Tyler Shelvin. Jackson has athleticism that could come in handy at the nose. He’s going to have to improve his ability to disengage interior offensive linemen but if he can, he has the strength and quickness to take down running backs.
Frank Pollack spent a good amount of time working with Mims footwork and position in practice Friday. One advantage of these sessions is for young players get a sense for how their new NFL coaches will communicate with them.
First round pick Amarius Mims has been wearing out the iPad learning from Frank Pollack and the Bengals blocking schemes. pic.twitter.com/vP1QFSModj
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) May 10, 2024
Other than dropping a pass that was thrown behind him by a coach, Burton caught everything that was thrown his way. He is expected to compete for a starting job in the Bengals offense behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Yes, he’ll have to beat out the likes of Trenton Irwin, Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones. But the Bengals didn’t spend a third round pick on a receiver out of Alabama without thinking he couldn’t come in and immediately make an impact in the passing game.
Jermaine Burton says Ja’Marr Chase has been in touch, likes Burton’s game. pic.twitter.com/bcsEq42vqy
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) May 10, 2024
The rookie corner out of TCU showed off raw quickness and sticky hands Friday. Needs to work on his ability to cover downfield but close to the line of scrimmage, he’s quick and strong. Many times in these offseason practices, the coaches will zero in on the weaknesses because other teams will eventually test those areas if the rookies are called on to contribute.
“When you start making your plays, just get around guys that are humble.” Asked rookie corner Josh Newton what he hopes to learn about the Bengals culture. pic.twitter.com/KEeGzm2uRt
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) May 10, 2024
