CINCINNATI -- William Jackson III's rookie season appears to be over before it officially began.

A source confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday that Jackson would miss significant time after he tore a pectoral muscle in practice Monday. A second opinion on Jackson's injury could help determine exactly how much time he'll miss.

It's awful news for Jackson. The promising rookie was hoping to use this camp to prove that he deserved, even at this early stage of his career, to be a regular part of the Bengals' cornerback rotation.

But even as bad as the news was for Jackson individually, it's not the worst for the Bengals collectively. Jackson's potential season-ending injury certainly is a cause for concern, but it definitely isn't a cause for panic in the Bengals' camp.

That's because Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick were already entering this season as the starters at the boundary cornerback positions. Although Jackson eventually would have gotten some time working inside as a slot cornerback this camp, his primary spot likely would have been on the outside where the two veterans were already present. Others like longtime Bengal Chris Lewis-Harris and offseason addition Chykie Brown also will factor into the depth on the boundary.

Former Bengal Leon Hall could factor, too, if he's re-signed out of free agency. The Bengals let him walk this spring, and he remains unsigned.

Besides Hall, Lewis-Harris could be a particularly interesting replacement. He has been praised by coaches throughout his five-year tenure as being a fringe player the Bengals can't turn away. They like his attitude and physical makeup, and they believe he could be an important cog on the cornerback depth chart behind Jones and Kirkpatrick.

Rookie seasons are often viewed as "redshirt" type years for cornerbacks anyway, and that's especially the case in Cincinnati. Logjams at the position made it difficult for Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard (the two previous first-round Bengals cornerback selections) to get on the field right away. Kirkpatrick didn't get regular starting time until his fourth year in the league, and Dennard is scheduled to see his most action this season, which will be his third.

Whenever a first-round pick goes down in camp, heads around the league turn. But in this case, we're talking about a first-rounder who wasn't expected to make an immediate impact. While Jackson could become a vital part of the Bengals' secondary next season -- depending in part on how Kirkpatrick's contract situation goes -- we're not yet there.

This injury will indeed slow Jackson's short-term growth, but there doesn't appear to be a reason for the Bengals to be troubled right now about how he develops over the long term. That's why you're permitted to be concerned, Bengals fans. But do not panic.