Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. did not only have the best game of his young career Sunday vs. the Cleveland Browns but did so with the flu.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor gave Jenkins a game-ball postgame and praised him for playing through the flu.

“Two sacks, Kris Jenkins,” Taylor said. “Flu game, Kris. Flu game, love it.”

Rook @macfrmGSF_ led his first 'WHO DEY!'#RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/lkWKa5ZJme

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 22, 2024

The second-round draft pick out of Michigan logged 2.0 sacks and two quarterback hits in the Bengals 24-6 win. The sacks were just the second and third of his rookie season.

On the year, Jenkins, a 6-foot-3, 305-pounder, has now recorded 28 total tackles, 3.0 sacks, 3.0 tackles for a loss, and five quarterback hurries as he continues to establish himself as an important piece of the future for the Bengal’s defensive line, run defense and pass rush.

The Browns ran for just 148 yards on the day, while the Bengals got home for five sacks, including two from Jenkins. Cincinnati picked up its third straight victory and finished off a season sweep of its in-state and AFC North foe.