CINCINNATI — Cashius Howell and Tacario Davis were the lone two Cincinnati Bengals draft picks still unsigned by the start of rookie minicamp on Friday, May 8, but unlike last year when two players sat out for contract reasons, everyone physically capable participated.
Howell, an edge rusher selected in the second round out of Texas A&M, and Davis, a third-round cornerback out of the University of Washington, both signed waivers to participate despite not yet being under contract.
Bengals Rookies Football
Cincinnati Bengals Cobie Young, left, and Corey Robinson II, run a drill during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp in Cincinnati, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster
Last year, both the team’s top two draft picks, Shemar Stewart and Demetrius Knight, did not participate in the rookie minicamp. Knight signed the waiver the following week and began practicing but Stewart did not join on-field activities until he finally signed the contract at the end of July during training camp.
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Both Howell and Davis said it was important for them to get reps from Day 1.
“I love football,” Howell said. “End of the day, regardless of negotiations still being attacked, like I said, I love football, so I wanted to do everything that I could in my power to put myself in the best position to go out there, get anything that I can, you know, with the football, with the talking, communication, just every aspect, so regardless of the contract not being negotiated fully, doesn’t really matter.”
The workout was less than an hour of drills but serves as a phasing in process for the rookies to begin to get acclimated to their new environment.
Fourth-round picks Connor Lew and Colbie Young, sixth-rounder Brian Parker II and seventh-round selections Jack Endries and Landon Robinson all signed and were present Friday, though Lew is still rehabbing back from an October ACL tear. Ten signed college free agents also participated.
Davis said he just wanted to get a feel for things and “steal reps.” The rookies and other first-year players will continue working together next week before integrating with the veterans the following week.
“It's really just getting to feel how they do things, so when we get with the whole team, I'm not new, it’s second nature, so, it’s the little detail stuff.”
Players said they took some time to appreciate putting on the Bengals gear for their first practice. Howell called it a “blessing” and Davis said it was a special realization of making it to the NFL.
That was especially the case for Parker, a St. Xavier High School graduate and native of Cincinnati. After four years at Duke, he’s back in his hometown playing with the local team.
Bengals Rookies Football
Cincinnati Bengals Brian Parker II, during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp in Cincinnati, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster
“Obviously super cool,” Parker said. “When I got back home from draft day, I was ecstatic. I had a bunch of my St. X buddies down there too, so growing up, everybody knows Cincinnati is a tight city. Everybody's really close here. So, the support I've gotten from everybody and just the love in the city, it was exciting to come back.”
Parker is unique in that he doesn’t yet know what kind of role the Bengals are looking for him to play. He played in 40 games with 33 starts, mainly at right tackle, for the Blue Devils, but was a center in high school and was projected as an interior lineman going through the draft process.
The Bengals drafted Lew in the fourth round as a backup to Ted Karras, but coming back from a major injury leaves some uncertainty about his future. Parker provides added insurance, plus depth across the line. He plans to be ready to play any position.
“Being able to play all the positions is huge for me,” Parker said. “I kind of take it from the center approach. Centers gotta know what everybody's doing, so, once you lock in and you know at center, then it makes the other positions easier. So, today I was out there at left and right guard, but you know, we'll be mixing and matching it all camp, I assume, and going into the season.”
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None of the rookies are expected to jump right into starting roles, but Howell, Davis and Young are in positions where some competition and rotational help are needed. Howell should factor into the rotation at defensive end, Davis could compete for the No. 3 cornerback spot and Young could do the same at wide receiver.
Howell said he will make the most out of this offseason to make sure he understands the playbook and speed of the NFL so he’s ready for real games come September.
“Honestly, I take a lot of pride in being very coachable and picking up on things in a fast way and being able to adapt,” Howell said. “Honestly, I think the major thing to be able to adapt to and to translate from college to NFL is probably just time management, just making sure that with all this free time, I don't have class and study halls and things of that nature, so just making sure I'm coming in, getting extra PT, getting extra film work, getting extra work with the coaches and things of that nature.”
Young said he wants to be another explosive weapon for the Bengals, adding to what Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins already bring, as he competes with Andrei Iosivas for the No. 3 receiver spot. He won’t get his first opportunities to be on the field with them for at least another week, depending also on when they arrive for offseason workouts, but he looks forward to when that time comes.
“I showed it in my college tape, I showed it in high school, everywhere, but those guys, like I said, giving me single-man coverage a lot of times, it’s going to be a blessing to play out there with them,” Young said.
CORRECTION Bengals Rookies Football
Cincinnati Bengals' Cashius Howell, center, works with defensive line and run game coordinator Jerry Montgomery, left, during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp in Cincinnati, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) CORRECTION: Corrects spelling of first name to Cashius, not Chassis. Carolyn Kaster