Bengals are losing their top rookie to injury, making this the perfect time for an even younger player to step into the spotlight
The Cincinnati Bengals will be without their most productive rookie for a little while as Cashius Howell recovers from wrist surgery. In the meantime, Shemar Stewart is the next defensive end up.
The Cincinnati Bengals will be without their most productive rookie for a little while.
Coach Zach Taylor confirmed to reporters Monday afternoon that defensive end Cashius Howell had wrist surgery following Cincinnati’s victory over the Tennessee Titans. Howell is “trending” to land on the Reserve/Injured list.
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That Howell isn’t a guarantee to go on I.R. a day after his surgery is a minor win for the Bengals. It means there’s a good chance this isn’t a season ending in injury for Howell, the No. 41 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Still, Howell is expected to miss several games, and that’s a big hit for Cincinnati’s pass rush.
Bengals to miss Cashius Howell’s rookie impact
Howell hit the ground running in his first few games in stripes. He recorded 11 pressures in three quarterback hits in his first three games. Both were top marks among rookie edge defenders.
The Bengals have relied on Howell as their No. 3 EDGE, the first one off the bench behind starters Boye Mafe and Myles Murphy. He even has a higher pressure rate and pass rush, wind rate compared to Murphy so far this season.
Howell’s production has teetered off a bit in recent weeks despite getting his first-career sack in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens. Rookie EDGEs tend to go through slumps, but losing him now in the heart of the season is going to require everyone aside from Mafe, who’s been borderline dominant this year, to step up.
Bengals top pass rushers by win rate
Cincinnati’s defense has lived and died by its front four getting after the quarterback. Win rates per Pro Football Focus.
- Boye Mafe (17.7%)
- B.J. Hill (17.2%)
- Jonathan Allen (13.1%)
- Cashius Howell (12.3%)
- Dexter Lawrence II (10.9%)
- Myles Murphy (10.6%)
Shemar Stewart’s time has come
Cincinnati has little choice, but to give Shemar Stewart more opportunities with Howell sidelined for at least several weeks.
Stewart, the Bengals’ first-round pick from the 2025 draft who’s actually seven months younger than Howell, has been largely an afterthought in this year’s defense since returning from hyperextending his knee during training camp. He had played in just 17 snaps prior to the Week 6 bye, and was a healthy scratch in Week 7. The 22-year-old did dress for Sunday’s game against the Titans, but only played six snaps despite Howell leaving the game with his wrist injury.
Stewart’s lack of involvement has made him a name other teams are monitoring as a potential trade target. But this is exactly why I don’t think Cincinnati ever considered putting Stewart on the trade block this year. All it took was one injury for Stewart to now take on a larger role.
The Bengals want Stewart to capitalize on increased opportunities, and now he’ll have his shot along with Cedric Johnson. Johnson also suffered an injury on Sunday, but Taylor says he will make the trip to Madrid, Spain for this week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.
With luck, Howell returns in time for Cincinnati’s first postseason run since 2022. Stewart we’ll have to take the baton in the interim to keep the fire of the Bengals’ pass rush alive.
