Cincinnati's second-round draft choice in 2024 played in 15 games with nine starts during his rookie season ... He saw his role elevate in the second half of the season, as he took over a starting DT spot for each of the final seven contests ... Finished rookie campaign with 31 tackles and three sacks ... In addition to his on-field production, he was noted during the draft process for his leadership qualities during four-year career (2020-23) at the University of Michigan ... Finished career with Wolverines as a team captain and second-team All-American in 2023, while helping lead team to national title ... His father, Kris Jenkins Sr., played 10 seasons in the NFL (2001-10) as a DT for the Carolina Panthers and N.Y. Jets, and was a four-time Pro Bowler.
Selected by Cincinnati in second round of NFL Draft (49th overall) on 4-26-24 ... Signed with Bengals on 6-13-24.
2024—Played in 15 games with nine starts as a rookie ... Inactive for team's first two games due to thumb injury ... Recorded 31 tackles (10 solos), with three sacks ... Made NFL debut on Sept. 23 vs. Washington, tallying one solo tackle and lining up for 25 defensive snaps ... On Sept. 29 at Carolina, stopped RB Chuba Hubbard on fourth-and-goal to force turnover on downs on game's opening drive ... Made first career start on Oct. 6 vs. Baltimore and had three assisted tackles ... Notched first career sack Nov. 3 vs. Las Vegas, taking down QB Desmond Ridder for loss of four yards in fourth quarter ... Posted season-high six tackles Dec. 1 vs. Pittsburgh ... Had first career multi-sack game Dec. 22 vs. Cleveland, bringing down QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson for seven-yard loss in first quarter and four-yard loss in fourth quarter.
Spent four seasons (2020-23) at Michigan ... Played in 44 games with 33 starts ... Totaled 113 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, four sacks, one INT and one FR ... Began career as rotational defensive lineman, then took over as full-time starting DT entering junior season ... Helped Michigan to three consecutive Big Ten championships and three straight appearances in College Football Playoff, capped off by national title in '23 season ... A team captain in 2023, he earned second-team All-America and second-team All-Big Ten honors ... Honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2022.
Hometown is Olney, Md. ... Attended Our Lady of Good Counsel in Olney, where he was named the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2019 ... Totaled 40 tackles, 19 TFLs, 15 sacks, five pass breakups, three FFs and one FR returned for a TD in senior season ... Communications and media major at Michigan ... Father, Kris Jenkins Sr., was a second-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2001 out of the University of Maryland, and played 10 NFL seasons as a DT for the Panthers and N.Y. Jets; he was a two-time first-team AP All-Pro (2002-03) and a four-time Pro Bowler.
