The Bengals’ defensive line is still in the early stages of getting acquainted, but Jonathan Allen is already laying down the kind of standard that tends to stick.
Allen, a 10-year veteran, is one of several new faces in the room, alongside rookie Cashius Howell. As training camp opens, the focus is less on polished product and more on the daily work of turning a group of newcomers into a functioning unit. Allen says his approach starts with showing, not talking.
"I'm more of a leader by example," Allen declared. "I'll definitely speak when I have to, but I think the most effective leaders are leaders who are honest with themselves and just genuine, and that's just being myself, having fun with the guys, but then showing them how I do things. So get ready."
That idea extends beyond practice reps. Allen pointed back to his own early days in the league and the influence of Ryan Kerrigan, a veteran who taught without saying much.
"I think it's showing them the process," Allen continued. "When I first came to the league, I had a guy like Ryan Kerrigan who didn't speak too much, but just the way he worked, the way he took care of his body with his nutrition and his diet, that really proved to be more vivid than anything I've ever received.
I'm just trying to show them my process. How I get ready for a long season and for a game, and teaching what I know."
For Howell, that kind of guidance arrives at the right time. The rookie says he’s carrying a chip on his shoulder and is eager to prove himself in Cincinnati, especially with Shemar Stewart’s knee prognosis affecting the picture up front. Howell is working to be the first edge rusher to slot in for Boye Mafe or Myles Murphy in the rotation, with more opportunities possible from there.
Isaiah Foskey is handling some of that workload while Howell gets his footing.
Howell said the veterans around him are exactly the kind of players he wants to learn from.
"Guys like Boye Mafe, Dexter Lawrence, just all the whole crew. They're definitely going to help me just take that next step," Howell noted. " Just maybe not make some of the same mistakes that they made in their rookie years, and to just learn from those mistakes, and just continue to keep getting better by 1% every day."
He also made it clear what he’s chasing most in camp.
"What I'm looking forward to the most is just going out there and proving myself. Just really showcasing what I could do," Howell continued.
"I know there's been a lot of doubts within my game. Just really going out there and showcasing that my game does actually translate to the next level, and that I'm here to stay."
And while he’s still settling in, Howell already feels the support from the fan base.
"The love I've received from Cincinnati Bengals fans, everybody's been incredible."
In Other News...
Bengals Camp Just Raised A New Concern In The Secondary
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Still, the safety group is starting to carry a little more intrigue because of who was not out there. Isaiah Nwokobia was missing from practice and working through rehab on the side field, joining a list of Bengals sidelined by injury or recovery work that also included B.J. Hill, Eric Kattus and Shemar Stewart. For a defense trying to sort itself out in camp, any absence in the back end can make the competition feel a little less settled than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
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For Joe Burrow, the appeal goes beyond names on a list. He has already praised Lawrences impact and pointed to the way the defense has improved around him, which matters for a team trying to keep pace in a loaded AFC. Cincinnati has spent plenty of time over the years talking about offensive firepower, but this feels different, with the front office clearly betting that a sturdier defense can make the Bengals more complete when the games start to matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Camp Debate Keeps Growing Around One Thin Position Group
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NFL.coms recent look at available options pointed to Kyle Van Noy as a name that could make sense, citing his experience and recent production, while Bobby Wagner also came up as another high-profile possibility. Cincinnati has not made that move yet, but the longer the market sits there, the more the discussion feels like one of the camps lingering debates rather than a passing thought. [Read more 🡒]