Bengals News (5/5): Intrigue in backfield

Bengals Draft Picks By The Numbers
He says the number also allows him to keep his "Uno," nickname. The 350-pound Shelvin takes the number usually reserved for Bengals nose tackles of late. The last man to wear No. 99 for more than a season, Andrew Billings from 2017-19, was also taken with the same 122nd pick in the fourth round.

Cincinnati Bengals reveal official jersey numbers for 2021 draft class
The Bengals announced the rest of the official jersey numbers for the 2021 draft class on Tuesday, with second-round pick Jackson Carman opting for No. 79 and Joseph Ossai going for No. 58. Cam Sample, another edge rusher, will go with the familiar No. 96.

Compensatory Pick Update: Cincinnati Bengals Need Familiar Face to Push For Playing Time
The Bengals were active in free agency this offseason and they're still in position to land a third or fourth round compensatory pick in 2022 according to Nick Korte of Over the Cap.

Bengals have one of NFL’s most improved offensive lines, per PFF
And that’s really not too shocking. The Chargers spent big on Matt Feiler and Corey Linsley, the Chiefs added Joe Thuney, Darryl Williams, Kyle Long and traded for Orlando Brown, plus drafted Creed Humphrey. And the Vikings drafted Christian Darrisaw in the first round.

Bengals OC Brian Callahan on Joe Mixon's workload: 'He should be on the field every down'
"I don't want Joe to leave the field, personally, and I think he's up to that challenge," Callahan said, via WKRC-TV. "He has some things he has to improve pass-protection-wise. Joe shouldn't come off the field. He should be on the field every down. He's aware of that."

Cincinnati Bengals — 2021 NFL Draft Grades For Every Pick
After a stellar 2019 sophomore season that saw him catch 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns from his new (and old) quarterback, Joe Burrow, Chase opted out of the 2020 season and waited for his name to be called in the 2021 NFL Draft. Shrewd and prudent, Chase’s reported work ethic, acumen for the game and rapport with his former and future signal-caller all point to special, special possibilities with the Bengals.

Cincinnati Bengals defense has multiplied its multiplicity
Over the past two years, defensive coordinator Lou Anamuro has tried to use his defensive ends in a variety of ways. One of which is to have Carlos Dunlap and Sam Hubbard line up on the edge of the defensive line, not with their hands in the dirt, but standing up in the way that a blitzing linebacker would in what’s known as a two-point stance.

Cincinnati Bengals Pick One of the 'Biggest Steals' and One of the 'Biggest Reaches' in the 2021 NFL Draft
They picked Texas edge rusher Joseph Ossai in the third-round (69th overall). That selection was one of the drafts "biggest steals" according to The Athletic. Ossai was 42nd on their consensus board.

Bengals add intrigue to running back position with nimble Pooka Williams
As the Bengals look to improve their offense for the 2021 season, the run game added some talent both through the draft and through undrafted free agency. One of the most intriguing names added to the Bengals’ roster over draft weekend was a UDFA by the name of Pooka Williams, who spent three years at Kansas and was one of the few bright spots for the program.

Quality Film Breakdown of Cincinnati Bengals Second Round Pick Jackson Carman
The 21-year-old appeared in 40 games and made 27 starts in three seasons for the Tigers. Even though he was a surprising pick, film analyst Mike Santagata [better known as Bengals Sans] put together an informative breakdown looking at Carman's strengths, his weaknesses and how he projects to the NFL level.

Around the league

Broncos OT Ja'Wuan James tears Achilles; could miss 2021 season
Though James' injury initially was believed to be season-ending, Garafolo reported Tuesday evening that doctors evaluated James' torn Achilles and there is hope he won't miss the entire campaign. Surgery is scheduled for later this week and they'll know more about James' recovery timeframe then.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on injury recovery: I could play in a game right now
"I'm close," Prescott said, via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. "I can go play in a game right now and in my head be very, very successful. So there is no doubt when that I need to be successful, when I need to do the things that it takes to be on the field, I'll do exactly that, and the timing will be right."

2021 NFL Draft: Lance Zierlein's three favorite picks by round
It's not that I don't like some of the quarterbacks or didn't like some of the fits with teams. It's just that when you write up close to 500 prospect profiles per year, you develop favorites and see fits that make perfect sense for those players. Honestly, we could have extended this exercise to my top five per round, and it wouldn't have been a problem.

DK Metcalf could really qualify for the 100M Olympic Trials
"DK's agent told us that he really wants to try to make the Olympics and asked what steps he needs to take," USA Track and Field Managing Director Adam Schmenk told Yahoo Sports' Jeff Eisenberg. "We walked him through what the auto qualifying time was that he would have to run in a sanctioned USATF event and told him that we would help him find a lane if and when he wanted to do this."