Dragging a weighted resistance band across his body, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback William Jackson III sweated through a demanding workout designed to boost the flexibility and strength in his surgically repaired right shoulder under the direction of longtime trainer Leo Johnson.
Jackson, a Wheatley graduate and former University of Houston all-conference selection, played the entire season with a torn labrum before aggravating it during an overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins and was placed on injured reserve in late December. He underwent surgery in January in Houston.
It was a painful season that tested Jackson’s pain tolerance and resolve, but he gutted it out to start 13 games and recorded 37 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed.
“I don’t know how I did it, but I did it,” Jackson said. “It was cool. I’m just happy I got it done. It was painful every game. You can tell there’s something that’s not supposed to be there.
“It’s nagging, and it’s telling you to fix it. It’s a lot of pain. I’m fully healthy and ready to go. I put on some muscle. I play some big receivers this year.”
Bengals @WilliamJackson3 'No goals are too big, I want to get a lot of picks in the picks column' @Leovjohnson @UHCougarFB @lvjperformance pic.twitter.com/bnhmtlcVJV
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 4, 2020
Jackson (6-foot, 193 pounds) has shutdown corner skills and is approaching a pivotal moment in his career: a contract year.
The Bengals exercised their fifth-year club option on the former first-round pick at a cost of $9.954 million as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
The Bengals love Jackson’s size, 4.37 speed in the 40-yard dash and cover skills enough that they rebuffed multiple NFL teams that inquired about him before the trade deadline last season, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
The prospect of signing a lucrative long-term contract with the Bengals is something Jackson is enthusiastic about, but he emphasized that it’s out of his hands, and he’s using his energy and concentration preparing for the season and proving his value.
“They picked up my fifth-year option, so that was a blessing,” said Jackson, who’s represented by veteran Houston-based agent Kennard McGuire. “I just go out there and have fun and let everything play out. I love it in Cincinnati. I’m comfortable. They’ve got a great coaching staff and great teammates around me.
“I would love to come back. Right now, I’m just focused and ready to get the season started. One thing you can control is when people aren’t watching is what you do. I come in, put the work in and it will pay off on Sundays.”
In four NFL seasons, Jackson has 103 tackles, 30 pass deflections and two interceptions. He returned an interception by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers 75 yards for a touchdown in 2017 and held his own against former Pittsburgh Steelers star Antonio Brown after missing his entire rookie season with a torn pectoral. He intercepted San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last year.
Jackson has come a long way from academic issues that nearly derailed his football dreams before buckling down in junior college.
“Coming up, nobody thought I would be in the NFL,” Jackson said. “I was a skinny dude, no weight. I was always doubted. At the end of the day, I was blessed to go to the NFL.”
Bengals @WilliamJackson3 'Coming up, nobody thought I would be in the NFL. I was a skinny dude, no weight. I was always doubted' @UHCougarFB 'gave me the opportunity to be where I am today. I love Houston and I remember it like it was yesterday. Crazy how fast life takes you' pic.twitter.com/G03Cn98Oab
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 4, 2020
For Jackson, it all started when UH believed in him as he matured and became more serious about academics. He led the country during his final college season with 28 passes defended and intercepted five passes, returning two for touchdowns.
“It meant a lot to me,” Jackson said. “They gave me the opportunity to be where I am today. Me being from Houston, I was just excited to get an offer from there.
“I just love Houston, and I remember it was like it was yesterday. It’s crazy how fast life takes you.”
Physically, Jackson is paying the price during his fourth year training with Johnson, a former wide receiver at Texas Tech.
“When I first started with him, he weighed a buck-65 max coming out of college,” Johnson said with a laugh. “No, he wasn’t that small, but he was frail going into the league. As he’s grown and has gotten more mature with strength training, he’s gotten a lot stronger. We’re incorporating some weights down the line when we get to where we want to with resistance training.
“William has been working his butt off. This is a pretty big year for him because it’s a contract year. Whatever happens with Cincinnati, we’re expecting good things out of him this year.”
Jackson has set his ambitions on showcasing his ability and emerging as one of the top corners in the game.
“I’ve always got goals; no goals are too big,” Jackson said. “I want to get a lot of picks in the picks column. I’ve been playing some great defense, but it could be better. I’m trying to get better every day.”
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With shoulder surgery behind him, William Jackson III ready for big year - Houston Chronicle
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