Bengals

Bengals DE Cashius Howell is in his rookie season after being a second-round pick in this year’s draft out of Texas A&M. When reflecting on dropping to No. 41 overall, Howell said it wasn’t his goal to be a first-round pick and is glad to prove he’s a capable NFL player after being overlooked prior to his college career. 

“You know, it wasn’t really ever about the first, second round. It would have been cool to go first round, it’s just a blessing to even go second round. If you just look where I’ve come from and how far I’ve came, a lot of doubt, a lot of overlookings on me early on in my, high school and college careers. But like I said, in those moments, in those times, I remember it wasn’t even about first or second round. Like it was about, am I even going to make it to the NFL? Can I even play at this level? So the fact that I made it second round, like man, like 41 top 41 … I was like 2,000th best player in my class to top 41. I’m taking it,” Howell said, via Geoff Hobson of the team’s site. 

Howell said he didn’t have any big offers before committing to Bowling Green in 2021.

“No. I didn’t have any Power Five offers or anything like that. So just going from that to top 41, bro, I’ll take it. Like I said, I have faith in God and His plan for me, and I’m just His vessel. I’m just allowing Him to take over my life, and whatever happens happens,” Howell said. 

• Aaron Wilson reports that Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase‘s $14,926 fine for celebrating a touchdown in Week 5 was successfully appealed and overturned.  

Ravens

Ravens HC Jesse Minter talked about OLB Mike Green and the second-year leap he’s seeing.

“I feel like the last couple games [Mike Green] has taken major steps towards playing the way that I feel like he is capable of playing,” Minter said, via the team’s website. “He would tell you the same thing. He is capable of being a really good player in this league. Sometimes it takes having a little bit of success and your confidence grows, which he has done the last couple games.”

Minter added that DB Malaki Starks has also made significant strides, but still has a ways to go in order to realize his full potential.

“I think Malaki is a really good player, and he is still kind of growing and improving and playing through those growing pains that you do as a young player,” Minter said. “But he has gotten better and better over the last couple games, and he is a really good athlete. He can be a really good tackler when he is detailed in tackling, and I think he would tell you that. He made some really nice plays [Sunday] night down in the red [zone] area.”

• Jeremy Fowler reports the Ravens will activate WR Ja’Kobi Lane (wrist) for their game against the Browns.

Steelers

The Steelers moved DC Patrick Graham to the field for game days after starting the year in the booth. Pittsburgh DL Cameron Heyward thinks they need Graham on the field for instant feedback and communication with the unit’s leaders. 

“I like my coordinator and we just did this change as well because I like for our coordinator to be on the field because then you can have constant communication,” Heyward said, via The Rich Eisen Show. “You can update things. You can check plays that you want to run. When you go from field to booth, that is an eye problem. Maybe he’s too focused in on one part of the game.”

“I think PG kind of understood what was going on, and I think Mike and PG talked about it. At the end of the day, it’s all about winning games, and so when we get the result we want, we’re going to keep PG on the sideline.”

• Steelers ILB coach Scott McCurley on Patrick Queen: “Last week, going into it, he had a good week of practice. We had a good understanding of what we expected from each other going into last week’s game, and he responded. He played physical, moved around well and took control of the defense. That’s what we expect out of him and what he expects out of himself.” (Farabaugh)
• Former Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean on returning to Tampa Bay for the first time on a different team: “It kinda feels like it’s going to be student finally going against the teacher. I can’t wait to see how everything unravels… It’ll be a bittersweet moment for me. When I go into the stadium, hopefully I don’t go on autopilot and walk into their locker room.” (Farabaugh)
• Dean on Bucs HC Todd Bowles‘ defense: “It’s an aggressive defense, and it’s blitz-heavy. He always tries to make sure he has more numbers than people can block. So, he likes to disguise different looks to figure out if you can figure it out on the fly. He’s very creative and it will be a hard task.” (Farabaugh)