CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals have completed three padded practices, and the success enjoyed by the defense continues to be the storyline of camp.The potent Cincinnati offense struggled to find a rhythm or explosiveness, but nobody is hitting the concern alarm on Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins just yet. And though nobody will be putting the Bengals defense in the same conversation as the 1985 Chicago Bears anytime soon, early returns are undeniably encouraging.Though the defense’s strong foundation offers a broad-brush view of camp’s most important storyline, there have been individual successes within that unit providing optimism beyond the big names.Bengals LBs offer encouraging start to training campPaul Dehner Jr.Here’s a look at four players who’ve made early splashes and why these results can plant seeds for a critical development once the season begins.Cashius Howell, edgeThe second-round pick out of Texas A&M won SEC Defensive Player of the Year, so making a good first impression in Cincinnati isn’t a surprise. What he did to Orlando Brown on Thursday was.Howell enjoyed success going against second-teamers through the first week of practices. Thursday’s reps turned toward defensive packages that feature him with the starters and were a reward of opportunity given what he’s shown.In his first rep against the starting left tackle, Howell got under his chin, drove the 6-8, 350-pound veteran backward and eventually planted him on his back at Burrow’s feet.Howell earned his reputation with speed, burst and bend for the Aggies, so to show off that level of power was an eye-opener.“He’s been really physical,” coach Zac Taylor said. “He’s really embraced the physicality of playing defensive end. That’s a great starting point for a rookie, where he’s not afraid to take on blocks and really strain and make some plays in the run game. He’s got natural pass-rush ability, which shows up on a daily basis. He can drive us crazy on offense because he’s really good at it.”He drove Brown crazy by following the bull-rush rep with a teleport around the outside edge to get near Burrow’s back on a pass play soon after.Howell was far from perfect and had his share of reps that went nowhere against other starters, but there’s no denying the early impression he’s making.Taylor gave Howell one of the highest compliments when he compared the physicality he sees from Howell to that of tight end Erick All, whom the coach referenced earlier this year as “the word physical in the dictionary is a picture of Erick All trying to put his face through somebody’s soul.”Rookie Cashius Howell is one of several key additions this offseason in the Bengals’ defensive makeover. (Kareem Elgazzar / Associated Press)Howell brought that vision to life against Brown.Flashes might deliver viral highlights, but repetition delivers playing time. If Howell can keep this rolling, he’ll have a serious role in passing situations and the outside edge rusher when the Bengals shift to a 3-4 on early downs.“Now it’s just what’s the consistency going to look like over a 30-day training camp period?” Taylor said. “I believe we’re going to see that from him from everything I’ve known about him and seen from him. But we’ll just continue to see what just happens over the next couple of weeks.”Cedric Johnson, edgeJohnson produced similar excitement as Howell from the same position. Really, the entire edge rusher contingent might be the most electric in camp. Boye Mafe has been a consistent winner, Myles Murphy continues to find the backfield, and the ascension of Howell and Johnson provides depth the team desires in waves.He’s popped multiple times, bending around the edge nearly untouched, and earned a few reps against the first team as the defense rotates. Johnson’s built more like Mafe and less like the smaller Howell, but the 2024 sixth-round pick looks to be blossoming.Johnson produced a pressure once every 7.9 pass-rush snaps last season. That ranked second among Bengals edge rushers, narrowly topped by Trey Hendrickson at 7.7.For his career, he’s produced 23 pressures in 197 pass-rush snaps.The flashes have been there in games; he’s merely lacked opportunity. Faith in him has only grown so far this camp, and now the defensive scheme more fits his strengths on the edge.DJ Ivey, CBCornerbacks coach Chuck Burks mentioned to Ivey on Tuesday morning that he’d be running with the first team that day. Ivey settled into the backup role through the first week of camp, but with Dax Hill battling a minor ailment, Ivey had a chance to line up against Higgins and Chase, and Hill took a rest day.And just like that, opportunity fell in his lap. It did so again Thursday with Hill still limited during team drills.“I’m just trying to stack days,” Ivey said. “Whatever opportunity I get — special teams, defense, third down — just go out there and try to make plays and do the best I can to help the team.”The days are stacking after a solid first week.Ivey has made the most of his time running with the first team, with a pass breakup on a deep post from Burrow to Higgins on Tuesday, then in perfect position to break up another deep ball for Higgins on Thursday. He hasn’t been picked on consistently or caught out of step.In short, Ivey looked the part.Add this to the role the Bengals already know he can play as the tight end-stopper, and confidence in him as the next cornerback up behind the starters is on the rise.Bryan Cook, SCook wouldn’t classify as under the radar by contract or respect level. He came over from the Kansas City Chiefs after signing a three-year, $40 million contract this offseason. Cook will be counted on to stabilize a notably unstable back end of the defense in 2025.He’s done that in quieter ways through the early portion of camp, noted more for his communication and leadership from the safety position than any specific plays he made.That changed Tuesday. To conclude practice, Cook stepped in front of a Burrow pass, beating receiver Mitchell Tinsley to the spot of an anticipation throw. He snagged an interception and raced the other way for a touchdown.The lack of blown assignments has been notable in the early going, and Cook deserves a significant amount of credit for that.His fellow safety Jordan Battle, specifically, noted the difference as he’s started getting used to playing next to Cook.“He’s dedicated to winning, you could tell,” Battle said. “Just the first day coming in, asking a lot of questions, making sure guys are comfortable before they go on the field. Making sure things are easy for us so we can just go out there and play.”Having his presence and communication make such a quick transition in the early portion of camp is an encouraging sign for shoring up the back line of the defense with several new players in the mix.