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Wilson

The new deal averages $11.2 million over the first two years, making Wilson the league’s sixth highest paid inside linebacker. Wilson is a playmaker (seven career interceptions) and the leader of the Bengals defense, posting back-to-back 100 tackle seasons while missing time to injuries. With Wilson signed, Cincy can now turn its attention to locking up QB Joe Burrow.

He popped up on the injury report on Friday and did not practice. It’s hard to speculate on an illness but generally players will play through them on Sundays if they can. The backup plan at every-down linebacker would be Akeem Davis-Gaither.

Wilson underwent shoulder surgery over the offseason. This injury is reportedly not as bad, but it will make him miss a few games. Wilson is second on the team with 37 tackles this season.

Wilson is still being eased back onto the field but reportedly saw action in 7-on-7 drills. The veteran linebacker said he doesn’t intend to do much more until he “hits the six-month mark” of his recovery, which would come sometime in late August. Wilson suffered a torn labrum in Week 14 of last season and underwent surgery in late February. A former third-round pick from the 2020 class, Wilson totaled 100 tackles and four interceptions last season for the Bengals in what was a breakout year for the third-year pro.

Wilson missed four of the Bengals’ final five games before playing through a torn labrum in the postseason. The 2020 third-rounder led Cincinnati in tackles (100) and interceptions (4) in a breakout second year while playing over 80% of defensive snaps. Wilson should be fully cleared for the start of training camp in July.

Wilson suffered a dislocated shoulder in Week 13 and is undergoing further testing to determine the extent of the damage. He will miss the Bengals’ Week 14 games versus the 49ers and possibly one or two more outings. Wilson leads Cincinnati in interceptions with four picks and 92 total tackles on the year.

Wilson went down while covering a punt. He was in for punt coverage duties because Markus Bailey, another Bengals linebacker, had just left the game with a shoulder injury. Wilson leads the Bengals with four interceptions on the year. Down multiple linebackers, expect the Chargers to continue attacking the middle of the field through this game.

The Bengals have also signed fourth-round LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, sixth-round OG Hakeem Adeniji and seventh-round LB Markus Bailey. A four-year starting middle linebacker for Wyoming, Wilson reached at least 94 tackles every season. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award as a redshirt senior (105 tackles, 11 deflections, 4 interceptions) and earned an invite to the Senior Bowl. He’s a quality tackler and high-energy player, but his best trait is his ability to make reads against the run, which led to being graded as PFF’s No. 2 FBS linebacker in run defense. A 64th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete with 4.63 speed, Wilson will be in the mix for immediate snaps.

Wilson (6’2/241) was a captain and four-year starting middle linebacker at Wyoming who reached at least 94 tackles every year. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award as a redshirt senior (105 tackles, 11 deflections, 4 interceptions) and earned an invite to the Senior Bowl. He’s a quality tackler and high-energy player, but his best trait is his ability to make reads against the run, which led to being graded as PFF’s No. 2 FBS linebacker in run defense. His pass coverage skills are closer to average (7.5 YPT allowed) but aren’t enough to change his NFL projection too much. Wilson, who is a 64th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete with 4.63 speed, should compete for starting duties as a middle linebacker.

Wilson (6’2/241) was a captain and four-year starting middle linebacker at Wyoming who reached at least 94 tackles every year. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award as a redshirt senior (105 tackles, 11 deflections, 4 interceptions) and earned an invite to the Senior Bowl. He’s a quality tackler and high-energy player, but his best trait is his ability to make reads against the run, which led to being graded as PFF’s No. 2 FBS linebacker in run defense. His pass coverage skills are closer to average (7.5 YPT allowed) but aren’t enough to change his NFL projection too much. Wilson, who is a 64th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete with 4.63 speed, should compete for starting duties as a middle linebacker.