McKinnley Jackson, the former Bengals third-round pick from 2024 who never quite broke through, officially inked a deal with the 49ers’ practice squad this week. Yeah, you heard that right, a *third-rounder* from just last year is heading to the practice squad after a pretty wild ride in Cincy.
From High Hopes to a Trade Request
Remember when Jackson was drafted in the third round back in 2024? Everyone had eyes on him, but it just never clicked with the Bengals. He couldn’t quite break through the depth chart, and honestly, things got to a point where he even asked for a trade last season. It’s a tough break for a guy picked that high, seeing your time with the team end without ever really getting established.
The Long Road to San Fran
The move to the 49ers didn’t happen overnight either. Word first got out at the start of September that the Niners were hosting Jackson for a workout. That was a few weeks ago! But it was only *this week* that the signing actually went down, officially adding him to their practice squad. It means a fresh start, a chance to develop his game elsewhere, which is exactly what he needed after how things went down with the Bengals.
Cincinnati’s Defensive Line Rolls On
Meanwhile, the Bengals aren’t waiting around. They’re moving forward with their established defensive line talent. Think Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, BJ Hill, and TJ Slaton, plus they’ve got some developmental guys of their own in Kris Jenkins and Landon Robinson. It’s clear they’ve got their plan, and now Jackson gets to carve out his own path on the West Coast. What’s next for him? Gotta show out on that practice squad and fight for a spot on the active roster.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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