Bengals’ debatable decision from roster cutdown day receives a sliver of validation during latest practice
One of the more interesting choices the Cincinnati Bengals made during roster cuts was keeping defensive end Shemar Stewart on the active roster. Stewart can’t play without practicing. The good news is, he did just that Wednesday afternoon.
One of the more interesting choices the Cincinnati Bengals made during roster cuts was keeping defensive end Shemar Stewart on the active roster.
Stewart suffered a hyperextended knee during the first practice of training camp back in July. He’s been rehabbing the injury ever since, spending recent practice sessions on the rehab field while the rest of the team practices.
Cincinnati could’ve done one of two things with Stewart. It could’ve placed the 22-year-old on the Reserve/Injured list, taking him out of the first four weeks of the year, or done nothing and plan on him returning before the first month of the season concludes. The Bengals chose option No. 2, indicating Stewart has a good chance of returning sooner rather than later.
Stewart can’t play without practicing. The good news is, he did just that Wednesday afternoon.
Shemar Stewart returns to Bengals practice
Cincinnati’s Wednesday practice did not feature wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase (knee) and Tee Higgins (heel), but it did include Stewart going through drills with a big brace around his recovering left knee.
This is a huge first step for the Bengals’ first-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft. Stewart has spent the last month getting himself ready to return in time for the regular season, and he’s much closer now compared to just a few days ago.
Coach Zac Taylor said the day after Stewart’s injury he’d be out for “several” weeks. Earlier this week, Taylor said they’d evaluate Stewart “week-to-week.” He’s been purposefully cautious in describing Stewart’s recovery timeline.
That alone made it possible for Stewart to still find himself on I.R. before the season began. The club could only put two players on the list with a return designation without first removing them from the roster. They can do it up to six more times now that cuts are over with.
It’s looking a bit more likely that Stewart won’t need to end up on I.R. and sitting out a minimum of four weeks now.
Stewart talks about Week 1 possibility
The best case scenario is Stewart gets through the next two weeks of practice flawlessly and he’s able to dress Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Unlikely? Probably, but not impossible.
Stewart wants to play, obviously, but knows it’s not up to him. What really matters is just getting back out there for the experience he’s aware he needs.
“That’s not up to me,” Stewart told reporters after practice. “It’s up to the training staff, and I’m just trying to take it one day at a time. It’s definitely an inconvenience because I definitely needed those reps. I definitely wanted those reps.”
Stewart missed most of his rookie season last year with injuries. He missed essentially all of training camp this year due to his knee. He’s in dire need of reps and playing time to get better.
He wouldn’t be able to practice on I.R. It’s an overwhelming positive he’s getting in the work instead of sitting out for the next month.
There are more hurdles for Stewart to clear before he sees the field for real. That he’s practicing more than a week before the season-opener validates Cincinnati’s decision to keep him on the active roster.
