Each Sunday, Bengals first-round draft pick Levi Jones talks about life as an NFL rookie.

I didn't start the first four games, but it does feel like I've played a whole season. It's pretty much taken a toll on my body. But, I mean, that's what I have to adjust to. That's the first major adjustment I have to make.

This will be my 11th start. That's as many games as we played last year at Arizona State.

Last week, I played a lot better against Jacksonville than I did the week before at Carolina. But am I happy about the performance? Probably not. I always feel like I can play better.

Hopefully, I can get stuff down and know what I need to learn and get it down. I'm not going to take these last two games lightly.

I'll be facing another talented defensive end this week. Darren Howard leads their defense with 7.5 sacks. It's another opportunity for me to go out there and get better.

They've got a good defense. They give up a few big plays, but they're good.

I'm going to go back out West and let my body recover when this thing is over. Then I'm going to hit it hard again. I'm going to work on the things I need to in the offseason. I don't want to come back just ready to play. I want to come back ready to dominate.

In the offseason, I just want to get a lot stronger. I've held my own this season, but I'm going to have to get a lot stronger if I'm going to dominate like I want to. I'll need to work on a lot of techniques and be ready once I get back.

I'll be at Athletes Performance in Tempe, Ariz., which is where I trained before I got drafted. I'll be back and forth.

--As told to Mark Curnutte

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