Kelly Jennings Moves Into Starting Spot

CINCINNATI — The Bengals are learning to get along without a cornerback who is also one of their cornerstones.

Leon Hall tore his left Achilles tendon in a loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday, ending his season. The Bengals (6-3) will try to stay in contention in the AFC North without one of their most indispensable players.

The Bengals traded for Kelly Jennings last August to provide depth. Jennings, a first-round draft pick by Seattle in 2006, started 14 games for the Seahawks last season. Jennings has missed three games early in the season because of a sore hamstring and his unfamiliarity with coordinator Mike Zimmer’s system.

Now, he moves into a starting spot.

“I finally got a chance to play three games back-to-back,” Jennings said. “With the injuries, I played two games and then I was out another two games. So I’m starting to settle down, calm down.

“It’s a chance for me to play more, a chance for me to get in the groove. I believe this is what they brought me in for — if something like this were to happen — so I’ll be ready to play.”

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(washingtonpost.com)