A 2020 third-round pick by the Bengals, Wilson has developed into one of the NFL's top LBs and is among Cincinnati's most productive defensive players ... Has led the team in tackles in each of the past two regular seasons, including a career-high 123 in 2022 despite missing Game 7 vs. Atlanta with a right shoulder injury ... Played 954 defensive snaps in 2022 regular season (third-most on team), then lined up for every snap (202) in the postseason ... Contributed to one of the most iconic plays in team history in Wild Card Playoff vs. Baltimore, when he forced a fumble by QB Tyler Huntley at the Bengals' one-yard line in the fourth quarter, and it was recovered by DE Sam Hubbard and returned 98 yards for a TD ... Missed four games in 2021, but still posted 98 tackles and recorded four INTs, tied for the most among all NFL LBs ... Did not miss a snap in four-game postseason run to Super Bowl LVI, and his 39 tackles were the most by any NFL player in the postseason since Ray Lewis in 2012 ... Took over in 2021 as "green dot" communicator on defense ... Started two of his 12 games played as a rookie in 2020, as he gradually worked his way into defensive rotation ... 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) ... Enters 2023 with eight career double-digit tackle games (five in regular season, three in postseason).
Selected by Cincinnati in third round of 2020 NFL Draft (65th overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 7-21-20.
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 in Game 1 vs. the L.A. Chargers, recording two tackles ... Made season-high five tackles on Sept. 27 at Philadelphia, and recorded his first career INT in the first quarter, when he jumped in front of a Carson Wentz pass ... Recorded second career INT on Oct. 11 at Baltimore, picking off Lamar Jackson at the end of the first half ... First career sack came on Nov. 1 vs. Tennessee, when he took down Titans QB Ryan Tannehill for a 10-yard loss on third down ... Inactive for Games 14-16 (ankle).Â
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 the regular season ... Intercepted QB Justin Fields late in fourth quarter on Sept. 19 at Chicago, leading to a Bengals TD on the 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 ... Logged 12 tackles and a PD in Wild Card Playoff vs. Las Vegas ... In Divisional Playoff at Tennessee, he intercepted a Ryan Tannehill pass with 28 seconds remaining, setting up a game-winning FG three plays later ... Also contributed to a two-yard TFL on RB Derrick Henry on fourth-and-one earlier in the fourth quarter ... Posted nine tackles (three for losses) and a PD in Super Bowl LVI vs. L.A. Rams.Â
2022—Started 15 regular-season games and all three postseason games for Cincinnati ... Inactive for Game 7 vs. Atlanta due to right shoulder injury ... Led Bengals with career-high 123 tackles (83 solos) ... Recorded 2.5 sacks, three TFLs, four PDs, one INT and one FF ... Central piece of defense that ranked sixth leaguewide in points allowed per game (20.1), and seventh in rushing defense (106.6 yards per game) ... Played 954 of 1035 (92.2 percent) defensive snaps during regular season, third-most on team ... Grabbed lone INT of the 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 the second quarter ... Tallied career-high 17 tackles (14 solos) on Dec. 11 vs. Cleveland, with a half-sack of QB Deshaun Watson to force a 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.
College: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 his final three seasons ... Totaled 421 career tackles (fourth in Mountain West Conference history), including 35 for losses 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 his final three seasons ... A four-time Academic All-Mountain West selection.
High school/personal: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.
