The Bengals may have found a rookie edge rusher who already looks way ahead of schedule.
Cashius Howell, Cincinnati’s second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, hasn’t been treated like a typical first-year player. The Bengals only used him in one preseason game, a pretty clear sign of how much they liked what he showed in training camp. And in that lone preseason appearance, Howell backed it up by teaming with Kris Jenkins Jr. for a sack against Detroit.
That snap gave a pretty good snapshot of what Howell brings. The former Texas A&M standout went to his patented spin move, the one that has already started causing problems for offensive tackles.
His regular-season debut against Tampa Bay was quieter on the stat sheet, with Howell credited for just one pressure. Even so, he drew a holding penalty and should have been credited with at least .5 of a sack after combining once again with Jenkins. The Buccaneers even tried to slow him with a tight end, and that did not work out well for them.
Howell’s explosiveness kept showing up, helping him create fast pressure throughout the game.
Then came Sunday against the Houston Texans, which was easily his best outing so far. Howell was credited with six pressures, wrecking plays from both sides of the line and logging as many snaps as starter Myles Murphy.
What stands out beyond the burst is the variety in his pass-rush toolbox. He’s not just winning with speed. He’s chaining moves together, changing looks on the fly, and keeping tackles off balance from one rep to the next.
He still hasn’t been credited with a sack, but the disruption is already there. If this keeps up, it won’t be surprising to see Howell post a two- or three-sack game soon for Cincinnati. Early on, this looks like a home-run pick for the Bengals.
And if he stays on this track, Howell should get real Defensive Rookie of the Year consideration.
In Other News...
Bengals Just Created A Depth Chart Battle Fans Should Watch
Following Cincinnatis Week 2 win, the back end of the roster offered one of the more interesting developments to come out of Sunday. Reserve defensive ends Cedric Johnson and Cashius Howell both made their presence felt with pressures and sacks, while on offense Erick All Jr. and rookie Colbie Young were on the field enough to suggest the Bengals are willing to keep expanding the group of players they trust in meaningful spots.
The bigger picture is a depth chart that may not be as settled as it looked a week ago, especially with the Bengals leaning into heavier personnel and more multiple tight end sets. Those looks naturally open the door for different combinations, and they also create a path for some reserves to push established starters for more snaps if the production keeps matching the opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Boye Mafe Is Giving Bengals Fans A Real Reason To Believe
Boye Mafe has given the Bengals something they have been searching for on the edge: a steady, disruptive presence who can change the feel of a defense. Early in the season, the Cincinnati signing has already flashed the kind of impact that gets attention around the league, including eight quarterback pressures in a recent game against the Houston Texans, while his pass-rush and run-defense grades have landed him among the NFLs top edge defenders.
For a Bengals defense trying to build on a better start, Mafes production matters because it does not look like a one-game spike. His all-around work has started to resemble the kind of roster move that changes a units ceiling, the sort of addition Cincinnati once found with Trey Hendrickson. The comparison is an encouraging one for fans, even if the bigger question is how far Mafe can keep carrying that level of disruption as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Enter Week 3 With The AFC North Suddenly In Flux
Week 2 did a number on the AFC North hierarchy, and the Bengals are walking into Week 3 with the division suddenly looking more unsettled than it did seven days ago. Cincinnati sits atop the standings after a weekend that saw Cleveland answer some of the early skepticism with a win over the Buccaneers, while Pittsburgh ran into trouble against the Patriots and Baltimore slipped out of first after a late loss.
For the Bengals, the bigger picture is simple: the margin in this division already feels thin, and the next round of games could shuffle it again. With the Browns trying to build on their bounce-back showing, the Steelers still searching for a steadier footing and the Ravens trying to recover from a damaging finish, Cincinnati has a chance to keep control if it handles the coming stretch. [Read more 🡒]