It seems like it’s now or never forShemar Stewart in Cincinnati.
Stewart, the Bengals’ first-round draft pick in 2025, has yet to live up to the expectations of a player selected in the first round.
There are plenty of reasons for Stewart’s slow start to his NFL career – some were self-inflicted; others have been out of his control. But at the end of the day, if Stewart doesn’t start producing, his future in Cincinnati could start becoming a legitimate question.
It’s only a matter of time before trade talk surrounding Stewart starts ramping up if he doesn't start playing more.
The Bengals have been plenty patient with Stewart as he’s dealt with unfortunate luck. However, Stewart likely lost the benefit of the doubt with the Bengals’ front office
when he opted to sit out of the Bengals’ voluntary offseason program and the first few training camp practices due to a contract dispute. His rookie season was then littered with injuries, and he was limited to 280 snaps total in 2025.
Stewart logged one sack, two hits and 10 hurries in his rookie campaign. He got off to the wrong start in Cincinnati, and now it’s up to him to change the narrative.
Stewart hyperextended his knee on the first day of the Bengals’ 2026 training camp in late July. He missed all of training camp and was out for the first two games of the season. The Bengals were cautious with Stewart as they worked him back into the mix, but his playing time has been minimal.
He’s been available for three games now and has played 17 snaps. Stewart has one sack so far this season and hasn’t played more than eight snaps in a game. Now that he’s had time to get back to full strength, the Bengals are ready for him to make a statement.
“I'm as excited about Shemar as anyone,” Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden said Oct. 19. “I see great promise in him, and he's working hard to catch up. He's missed a significant amount of time, and we need him to come on.”
The Bengals are seeking more consistency on defense – specifically against the run and when facing mobile quarterbacks. Cincinnati ranks No. 23 against the run, giving up an average of 123 yards per game.
The Bengals drafted Stewart where they did largely because of his athleticism and potential. He's 6-foot-6, 290 pounds and possesses rare speed for his size. He should be a player the Bengals can count on to be physical and bring down mobile quarterbacks or running backs. It could be the niche that keeps him on the field over others.
The Bengals could be facing one of the NFL’s best dual-threat quarterbacks in Baltimore's Lamar Jackson this week. His status is currently up in the air as he deals with an ankle injury that’s forced him to miss two games.
Regardless of whether Jackson is on the field or not, the Ravens still have running back Derrick Henry, who’s one of the most challenging running backs to bring down.
If the Bengals increase Stewart’s snaps, he has to make the most of them. The Bengals went into the bye week needing a reset. They must be more consistent on defense, and perhaps Stewart could help.
Golden said an early bye came at a particularly good time for Stewart. He’s now had a chance to get his legs back under him, and now it’s time for him to show the Bengals he’s worth the investment the team made in him last year when they drafted him with the No. 17 overall pick.
“The reality of it is we're going to need everybody here down the home stretch,” Golden said. “I would love to see a spike in his game.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals looking for 'spike' in Shemar Stewart’s game
