Cashius Howell Making Noise at Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp

As the 2026 NFL season is just around the corner, the hype around the Cincinnati Bengals is as high as ever. There is an unprecedented expectation for success for the franchise after three consecutive seasons of missing the postseason, and it appears the Bengals are ready to end that streak.

Going into this offseason, the two people under the most pressure were director of player personnel Duke Tobin and head coach Zac Taylor. Tobin delivered immediately, making key signings in free agency, re-signing core starters, and even making a blockbuster trade for former New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Taylor will certainly be in the hot seat next offseason if the Bengals fail yet again, so a lot is riding on this season for him in particular.

One move that may have gone under the radar amid the splash moves was the second-round selection in the NFL draft. At the No. 41 pick, Cincinnati chose former Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell. With former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe joining the Bengals in free agency and Cincinnati's 2025 first-round pick, Shemar Stewart, also in the position group, it was easy to lose Howell in the pack.

So far in training camp, he’s proving that nobody should take their eyes off of him. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen had high praise for his rookie teammate ahead of their first preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Thursday at 7:00 PM EDT. 

“He’s the real deal,” said Allen. “Everything you’ve seen on tape, you see him do it at the NFL level. He’s gonna be in the league a long time; he’s a dog.”

In his final year of college, Howell won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award, along with being named a unanimous First-Team All-American. He totaled 31 combined tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks, showing his relentless ability to get beyond the line of scrimmage. 

Speed was key for Howell’s success in college. While it wasn’t his only key asset, his athleticism stood out among the rest, and it appears even at the highest level that remains true. In training camp, he’s showing the ability to use his speed to get into a superior position against the offensive linemen, then using his strength to overpower his opposition.

With Stewart being looked at as week-to-week after suffering a hyperextended knee on the first day of training camp, Howell may be expected to produce right away. The opportunity will be there for him to show off his skills, especially in preseason, so it’s only a matter of time until fans see how well his skills at practice can translate to the games.