Jalen Rivers is a versatile Miami product who started seven straight games at right guard for the Bengals before a knee injury cut his rookie year short.
Jalen Rivers arrived in Cincinnati with a reputation as a polished, high-character lineman capable of playing both guard and tackle. After earning a starting job in the middle of his rookie season, he now looks to build on that foundation as the Bengals continue to shape their interior offensive line.
Path to the league
Rivers started for several seasons on Miami's offensive line, playing both guard and tackle on the left side as part of the nation's top-ranked offense in 2024. The Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the fifth round, 153rd overall, of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
At 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, Rivers earned praise from Bengals scouts for his polish and leadership, with the team viewing him as a long-term option at guard. He showed steady improvement through his final college seasons, playing some of his best football late in 2024 and at the Senior Bowl.
2025 season recap
Rivers pushed for the Bengals' opening-day starting guard job as a rookie and started seven consecutive games at right guard after injuries opened a path into the lineup, becoming part of the first rookie guard tandem Cincinnati had started in nearly 30 years. A knee injury in Week 11 ended his run as a starter, and he appeared in just two more games the rest of the season.
Sources
- Bengals.com: Jalen Rivers
- ESPN: Jalen Rivers
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Guard
- Group
- offense
- College
- Miami
- Hometown
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
