CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive end Cashius Howell underwent wrist surgery Sunday night after suffering an injury during the team's 43-36 overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans.
Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed the surgery Monday, saying Howell would miss multiple weeks. The Bengals have not yet placed the second-round draft pick on injured reserve, although Taylor acknowledged that the team was leaning toward that decision.
Howell has appeared in seven games this season, recording six tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and five quarterback hits. He has played approximately 40% of Cincinnati's defensive snaps, becoming a regular contributor along the defensive front in his first season.
His absence comes at an unfortunate time for a Bengals defense already dealing with injuries. Defensive end Cedric Johnson is day-to-day with an ankle injury, leaving Cincinnati potentially short-handed heading into Sunday's matchup against Atlanta in Madrid.
The injury could create additional playing time for Shemar Stewart, Cincinnati's first-round pick in 2025. Stewart played just six defensive snaps against Tennessee, but Taylor expressed confidence in his ability to take on a larger role.
Cincinnati has not announced a timetable for Howell's return. Placing him on injured reserve would require him to miss at least four games, making his status an important development as the Bengals enter the second half of their season.
