Bengals dodge a major bullet with Shemar Stewart’s official injury diagnosis, here’s what’s next
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart officially has a hyperextended knee. Zac Taylor revealed Stewart’s training camp injury that caused him to be carted off the field will have him out for “several weeks.”
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart officially has a hyperextended knee.
Coach Zac Taylor revealed Stewart’s training camp injury that caused him to be carted off the field will have him out for “several weeks.”
Another injury for Shemar Stewart to overcome
Stewart’s injury is yet another setback in his young career. The 22-year old played in just eight games as a rookie and missed nine due to two separate injuries. An ankle injury in his second career game knocked him out of action, and he later spent five weeks on injured reserve with a knee injury. Stewart played only 280 total snaps and made four starts at defensive end during his first season.
On the bright side, a hyperextended knee is far from the worst case scenario here. Stewart’s knee appeared to bend in a very terrifying way whilst going up against Cody Ford during 11-on-11 action. Any torn ligament would’ve kept him out for quite some time. This is by far the best possible news the Bengals could’ve hoped for.
What’s next for Cincinnati’s defensive line
With Stewart now on the mend, the attention goes directly to this year’s second-round selection Cashius Howell. The No. 41 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft was the 2025 SEC defensive player of the year and a former teammate of Stewart’s at Texas A&M. Howell started camp as a second-string player and will continue operating in that group, but now we’ll get an increase in snaps as Stewart takes the next several weeks recovering.
It also means more work for fellow backup Cedric Johnson. A sixth-round pick from the 2024 draft, Johnson has slowly, but surely risen up the ranks in the Bengals defensive line room. He’s firmly in the top four of the rotation behind starters Myles Murphy and Boye Mafe.
Isaiah Foskey and Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. are also positioned for more snaps as well.
Will the Bengals sign another edge?
I’m not betting on it right now. It sounds like there’s a chance for Stuart to be back in time for the regular season which is still six weeks away even if he starts the year on IR the Bengals may feel comfortable with Hall and Johnson taking Stewart’s snaps until then.
If the Bengals suffer another injury on the edge of their line, maybe then we could see an external addition. For now, the Bengals dodged a major bullet and Will press song with camp.