Cashius Howell is starting to make his presence felt in Bengals camp, and the early buzz is hard to ignore.
The second-round pick from Texas A&M was the Bengals’ first selection in April, and at first glance, he didn’t exactly jump off the page. That’s changed quickly. Last year’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year is drawing real attention now, with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer calling him a “monster” in camp.
Breer said the Bengals viewed Howell as a player they might have targeted if they hadn’t moved the No. 10 pick, which made landing him later in the draft look like a win internally. What’s standing out now is the same blend he showed in college: speed, explosiveness, and a level of strength that apparently caught some people off guard.
One moment in particular turned heads this past week, when Howell put Orlando Brown Jr. on his back. That’s no small feat against a tackle who stands 6’8” and weighs 350 pounds, and it offered a clear glimpse of the kind of force Howell can bring off the edge.
His timing matters, too. Shemar Stewart is expected to miss several weeks with a hyperextended knee, so the Bengals could need Howell sooner rather than later.
He’ll have Boye Mafe and Myles Murphy around him in the room, giving him veterans to learn from, but the bigger point is this: Howell is not just another edge rusher from Texas A&M. He looks like someone who can matter for this defense, and he’s already pushing his way into the conversation.
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Joe Burrow Getting Knocked Down Created A Bengals Practice Tension
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Even so, the reaction around the field stayed measured, with teammates and coaches treating it like part of the work rather than a warning sign. Defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery acknowledged the effort on the play, and the team soon flipped practice directions, sending the backups through their series on the other side while the first-team moment passed without much drama. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Defense Just Got A Camp Sign Fans Needed
Training camp has delivered a small but meaningful update for a Bengals defense that spent the offseason trying to get sturdier across the board. Cincinnati has already added pieces to help on that side of the ball, and every bit of progress from the returnees matters because the units ceiling depends on getting more bodies back in the mix and back into football shape.
Shemar Stewart has been around the field while wearing a sleeve on his left leg, a sign the rookie is still working through his recovery. BJ Hill, meanwhile, has been edging closer to full participation, joining practice work in helmet and pads as the Bengals continue to monitor how quickly their defensive front can come together before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]