A 2020 third-round pick of the Bengals, Wilson has developed into one of the NFL's top LBs and is a highly productive player on Cincinnati's defense ... His 11 career INTs are the most by any LB since he entered the league ... Has led the Bengals in tackles in each of the past three regular seasons, including a career-high 135 in 2023 ... Also recorded four INTs, four TFLs and nine PDs in 2023 ... One of two NFL players with at least 10 INTs, five sacks and five FFs since start of 2020 season, alongside Minnesota S Harrison Smith ... Wears the "green dot" as player that relays defensive play calls for Cincinnati ... Signed a contract extension in August 2023 and will remain a Bengal through the '27 season ... Known for his speed (4.63-second 40-yard dash at the combine) and coverage ability at LB, and was an all-state selection at both WR and DB in high school (switched to LB early in college career).
Selected by Cincinnati in third round of 2020 NFL Draft (65th overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 7-21-20 ... Signed contract extension with Bengals on 8-5-23.
2020—Played in 12 games as a rookie, with two starts (Games 7 and 9) as a third LB ... Totaled 27 tackles, one sack, two INTs and three PDs ... Also tallied six special teams tackles (fourth on team) ... Made NFL debut on Sept. 13 vs. L.A. Chargers, recording two tackles ... Made season-high five tackles on Sept. 27 at Philadelphia, and recorded first career INT in first quarter, picking off Carson Wentz pass ... Recorded second INT on Oct. 11 at Baltimore, picking off Lamar Jackson at end of first half ... First career sack came on Nov. 1 vs. Tennessee, when he took down QB Ryan Tannehill for 10-yard loss on third down ... Inactive for Games 14-16 (ankle).
2021—Played and started 13 regular-season games and all four postseason games for AFC Champion Bengals ... Missed Games 13-15 with right shoulder injury suffered Dec. 5 vs. L.A. Chargers, and then missed season finale at Cleveland while Bengals rested starters for playoffs ... Led team in both tackles (98) and INTs (four); his four INTs tied for most among all NFL LBs, and were the most by a Bengals LB in 16 years (Odell Thurman, five in 2005) ... Also had a sack and a FF, along with two tackles on special teams ... First season as the "green dot" communicator on defense ... Helped Cincinnati rank fifth leaguewide in rushing defense (102.5 yards per game) during regular season ... Intercepted QB Justin Fields late in fourth quarter on Sept. 19 at Chicago, leading to Bengals TD on next play ... Posted first career multi-INT game on Sept. 26 at Pittsburgh, picking off Ben Roethlisberger in Steelers territory both times and setting up two Bengals TD drives; also had 14 tackles against Pittsburgh ... In four-game postseason run, he played all 274 possible defensive snaps, led the team in tackles in each game and posted an NFL-best 39 tackles, the most in a single postseason since Baltimore's Ray Lewis (51) in 2012 ... In Divisional Playoff at Tennessee, he intercepted a Ryan Tannehill pass with 28 seconds remaining, setting up game-winning FG three plays later ... Also contributed to two-yard TFL on RB Derrick Henry on fourth-and-one earlier in fourth quarter ... Posted nine tackles (three for losses) and a PD in Super Bowl LVI vs. L.A. Rams.
2022—Started 15 regular-season games and all three postseason games ... Inactive for Game 7 vs. Atlanta due to shoulder injury ... Led Bengals with 123 tackles (83 solos) ... Recorded 2.5 sacks, three TFLs, four PDs, one INT and one FF ... Helped Bengals rank sixth leaguewide in points allowed per game (20.1), and seventh in rushing defense (106.6 yards per game) ... Grabbed lone INT of season on Sept. 25 at the N.Y. Jets, picking off QB Joe Flacco and returning it 41 yards to set up Bengals FG drive in second quarter ... Tallied career-high 17 tackles (14 solos) on Dec. 11 vs. Cleveland, with a half sack of QB Deshaun Watson to force Browns punt ... On Dec. 18 at Tampa Bay, posted 15 tackles, including nine-yard sack of Tom Brady that led to fumble recovered by Bengals ... Registered team-high 23 tackles (15 solos) in postseason ... In Wild Card Playoff vs. Baltimore, logged game-high 10 tackles, and forced a fumble from QB Tyler Huntley at Bengals' goal line in the fourth quarter, leading to DE Sam Hubbard's 98-yard fumble return TD.
2023—Started all 17 games at LB ... Played 1068 of a possible 1095 defensive snaps (97.5 percent; second most on team) ... Recorded career-high 135 tackles (78 solos), with one sack and five TFLs ... Also had nine PDs, four INTs and three FFs ... INT total tied for team lead and tied for seventh in NFL ... Posted at least 10 tackles in six games ... Had two INTs on Sept. 25 vs. L.A. Rams, with second occurring at Bengals' 22-yard line to prevent scoring threat and set up Cincinnati FG drive in third quarter ... On Oct. 29 at San Francisco, tallied 10 tackles and picked off QB Brock Purdy in fourth quarter; returned INT 16 yards to inside 49ers' red zone, leading to Bengals TD on following play ... On Nov. 12 vs. Houston, forced a C.J. Stroud fumble while splitting a sack with DE Trey Hendrickson (Bengals recovered) ... Tied for team lead with 10 tackles on Dec. 10 vs. Indianapolis, and helped limit Colts to 46 rushing yards ... Recorded fourth INT of season in finale on Jan. 7 vs. Cleveland, and returned it 26 yards to set up Bengals FG drive.
Spent five seasons (2015-19) at the University of Wyoming, with a redshirt year in '15 ... Started all 52 possible games in his career, and was voted by teammates as a team captain for each of final three seasons ... Totaled 421 career tackles (fourth in Mountain West Conference history), including 35 TFLs and seven sacks, with 17 pass breakups, 10 INTs (two pick-sixes), four FFs and four FRs (two returned for TDs) ... Topped 100 tackles in each of final three seasons ... Four-time Academic All-Mountain West selection.
Hometown is Casper, Wyo. ... Attended Natrona County High School in Casper, where he was a Wyoming Coaches Association Class 4A all-state selection as a WR and DB his final two seasons, as a punter his final three seasons, and as a K his junior season ... As a senior, caught 29 passes for 493 yards and seven TDs at WR, had six INTs as a DB, and averaged 43.7 yards on 27 punts ... Helped team to undefeated seasons and 4A state titles as both a sophomore and senior ... Kinesiology and health promotion major at Wyoming ... Recipient of Bengals' 2022 Ed Block Courage Award, which honors players who symbolize professionalism, strength and dedication while also serving as role models in the community.
