Training camp is typically hard on the trench players. Just look at what's happened with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Cam Sample is out for the year with an Achilles tear . Sam Hubbard is rehabbing a knee injury . Trey Hendrickson missed nearly two weeks of practice with his own injury.
Hendrickson and Hubbard will be alright for the season, but more trouble is happening between them in the interior. Rookie nose tackle McKinnley Jackson suffered a knee injury of his own this past Monday and had to be carted off the field.
Thankfully, it doesn't appear to be a serious injury for Jackson, but he's not the only injury the Bengals have to worry about at defensive tackle.
McKinnley Jackson injury update
Jackson, selected 97th overall in this year's NFL Draft, told Cincinnati.com's Kelsey Conway that his injury has him "day-to-day" despite having his knee in a brace and using crutches. The training staff is surely wanting to keep pressure off the knee and stabilize it.
It doesn't sound like Jackson will be out for long, which is a huge relief for Cincinnati. The Bengals didn't sign a true nose tackle following the departure of DJ Reader in free agency. When Jackson was drafted back in April, he became the team's only true nose. His role will have him playing significant snaps right out the gate .
Putting so much on the plate of a third-round pick may not have been the smartest plan, but that's how things transpired after Reader walked.
Jackson's injury may not be severe, but it does increase the total to four Bengals defensive tackles who aren't currently practicing. Devonnsha Maxwell has been out on the Physically Unable to Perform list since before camp started, and Jay Tufele and Domenique Davis have spent most of camp on the rehab field as well.
The Bengals have promptly responded by bringing in reinforcements.
Bengals sign two defensive tackles
The Bengals first signed defensive tackle Joshua Pryor on Wednesday along with edge defender Andre Carter. Per NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, the team is signing another defensive tackle in Carlos Davis.
Pryor is a second-year player who originally was signed by the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He played in seven games as a rookie for the Commanders, and was waived by the club this past May.
Davis is a fifth-year player who originally was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2020. He spent three years in Pittsburgh and played in 13 games, including one postseason appearance. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2023 offseason, but was cut before the regular season. The Falcons eventually added him to their practice squad late in the season.
Pryor and Davis come to Cincinnati just days before the preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It may be too early to give either of them more than just a handful of snaps, but their presence does give the team at least seven healthy bodies in the position room to get through practice for the next few weeks.
Bengals' updated depth chart at defensive tackle
After all the injuries and signings, here's what the (healthy) depth chart at defensive tackle looks like for Cincinnati:
Starters
- Sheldon Rankins
- B.J. Hill
Reserves
- Zach Carter
- Kris Jenkins (rookie)
- Travis Bell
- Joshua Pryor
- Carlos Davis
Of the seven healthy and able players, only three of them should be considered locks to make the roster. All of the turmoil gives players like Carter and Bell increased opportunities to prove their worth and stick around for the regular season.
When Jackson does return, he'll have draft status on his side to make the roster along with Jenkins, the team's second-round selection. Carter and Bell may be battling for the final spot pending on when the other injured tackles return.
Related: Bengals Roster Breakdown: McKinnley Jackson has enormous shoes to fill at defensive tackle
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