Cincinnati Bengals - June 25, 2026

Cashius Howell: Rink Rat Rushes The NFL

Plus: Jonathan Allen's Snap Counts and an offseason review.

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How A Rink Rat And Hockey Guy Rushed The NFL

If you want to know why that chip on the shoulder has been sanded down to a fiery edge and how Cashius Howell embodies the pure, uncut underdog, and why he showed up this spring with a ferocious focus the Bengals love, you don't have to go very far.

Start with a dad who gave him a rink rat's resilience and resolve. It helped make him hockey tough and intense, like last season's 11.5 all-out fore-checking sacks.

After earning two engineering degrees and a club hockey national championship at turn-of the-century Miami University, Maximillian Howell went back home to Kansas City to coach youth hockey. And even though he wouldn't try to convince son Cashius to play after an early injury, hockey played a big factor in a Cincinnati football story.

Jonathan Allen preparing for his next drill at OTAs.

JONATHAN ALLEN SNAP COUNTS, PLUS, AN OFFSEASON REVIEW

Jonathan Allen, one of the Bengals' new defensive tackles who wreaked havoc on the NFC East before eyeing the AFC North this season, had to smile after one of the spring practices.

How many snaps are too many?

"That's always a question, isn't it?" Allen asked. "It's a fine balance. I always tell people, when it comes to athletes, everybody needs somebody to protect them from themselves. Because if you ask me in the moment, I don't want to come out."

Dohnte Meyers catching a pass at mandatory minicamp.

DOHNTE MEYERS' LONG AND DELUSIONAL ROAD TO CINCINNATI

"I'm at a crossroads," Meyers said. "I either get my degree and let things play out or take control of my own destiny."

After un-enrolling from Presbyterian, Meyers spent the Spring of 2020 sitting in the portal, training and living with his grandparents while waiting for the phone to ring. Finally, it did. One of his old little league coaches was on staff at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, and saw Meyers' name in the portal. He committed to Delta State that summer.

Behind-the-scenes footage from Bengals players during media day.

📸 MEDIA DEY HIGHLIGHTS

🎥 ANTHONY MUÑOZ FOUNDATION FOOTBALL ACADEMY

Local kids enjoying Anthony Munoz football academy.

BENGALS BOOTH PODCAST: LONG, LONG WAY FROM HOME

Dan Hoard goes overseas to find out what long-time Bengals scout Greg Seamon and former Bengals preseason quarterback Rocky Lombardi are doing in the German Football League.