Former LSU WR Jaray Jenkins Looks To Bounce Back With Steelers After Missing Rookie Season Due to Injury

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Jaray Jenkins to a one-year deal in June to bolster the bottom part of their wide receivers room. Jenkins was a low-volume, big-play receiver for the LSU Tigers through the 2022 season. At LSU, Jenkins hauled in 89 career receptions for 1,370 yards and 14 touchdowns with 12 of them coming over his final two seasons.

Since then, Jenkins went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft but signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. Jenkins would go onto miss his first professional season after an injury caused him to be waived from the roster prior to the season. He did not sign with another team for the remainder of the 2023 season.

With Jenkins, there is not an outlier x-factor in his game as he tested poorly in the pre-draft process. He ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Combine. He also posted a 4.52-second shuttle, a 7.38-second three-cone drill, a 29.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-8 broad jump. These were all among the bottom-tier scores for wide receivers. In total, he had a 4.09 Relative Athletic Score out of 10.

With that, there is little for Jenkins to bank on for an advantage. That is also may be the reason that Jenkins never ascended the depth charts at LSU. As a senior in 2022, Jenkins was out-touched by four other receivers.

With guys like George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Quez Watkins, Roman Wilson and Jefferson are considered as the frontrunners for roster spots, it leaves little wiggle room for a guy like Jenkins.

Due to the log-jam that is in front of him, Jenkins is likely competing for a spot on the team’s practice squad. Regardless, Jenkins should receive many chances to showcase his talents during his first preseason with the Steelers. If he fails to crack the 53-man roster, Jenkins is a candidate for the practice squad but will have to win that spot.

He joins Duece Watts, Jacob Copeland, Scotty Miller and Marquez Callaway as fringe roster receivers that are all fighting for spots on the Steelers practice squad.

21 • Jaray Jenkins, Wide Receiver, LSU
6-foot-2, 206 pounds, 24 years old, 2nd Season

Acquired: The Steelers signed Jaray Jenkins to a one-year contract on June 3, 2024.

Last Season: Jaray Jenkins went undrafted out of LSU last year and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. Jenkins suffered an injury last August and was waived with an injury settlement on Sept. 4, 2023. He did not sign with another team last season. Jenkins has yet to make his NFL debut.

College: Jaray Jenkins was a four-star recruit coming out of Jena High School in Louisiana and committed to the in-state Louisiana State University Tigers. Jenkins redshirted and did not see the field during his freshman season and was a slow comer once he arrived due to a leg injury that he suffered in high school.

Jenkins appeared in seven games as a redshirt freshman. He caught five passes for 67 yards in 2019. The following season is when Jenkins started to increase his role within the Tigers offense. He played in 10 games and started seven of them in 2020. He finished the season with 23 receptions for 397 yards and two touchdowns.

In 2021, Jenkins started six games but played in all 13 as he finished with his most productive year as a Tiger. He caught a career-high 34 passes for 502 yards and six scores. Jenkins played well in his final season in college as he hauled in another six touchdowns.

Jenkins finished his college career with 43 appearances and 20 starts at wide receiver for the tigers. Over his five seasons in Death Valley, Jenkins totaled 89 career receptions for 1,370 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Salary cap and future: The Steelers signed Jaray Jenkins to a one-year contract. If he makes the 53-man roster this year, Jenkins will cost $795,000 against the team’s cap space.

None of his money is guaranteed meaning if the team decided to release him at any point, they will not face any dead money penalties.