Kirkland Launches NFL Career, Plays Second Half of Bengals Loss
Jaxson Kirkland made his NFL debut on Friday night for the Cincinnati Bengals, playing the entire second half of the exhibition opener against Green Bay, and his performance drew mixed reviews at best.
In a 36-19 loss in Cincinnati, the much-decorated former University of Washington offensive lineman looked mobile enough as he opened some holes, but twice he got beat badly in pass protection and drew a hands-to- the-face penalty.
Carrying a 6-foot-7, 328-pound frame, Kirkland joined the Bengals as an undrafted free agent, making it doubly tough for him to earn a spot on the 53-player roster.
Yet Cincinnati offensive-line coach Frank Pollack at times has been complimentary of the 25-year-old rookie from Vancouver, Washington.
“That kid is so much fun to coach,” Pollack told reporters this past week. “I get on his [bleep] and he doesn’t bat an eye. He immediately goes out to apply the correction.”
Against the Packers, Kirkland just missed a chance to play alongside former Husky teammate Jake Browning, who started the game at quarterback and ran the team for the first two quarters.
Browning looked solid enough, completing 10 of 17 passes for 95 yards and finished his stint with the Bengals trailing just 21-16 at halftime.
Kirkland operated at right guard, playing next to veteran right tackle Jackson Carman and in the same huddle with rookie wide receiver Shedrick Jackson from Auburn.
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