If Cincinnati Bengalsdefensive end Shemar Stewartis able to play in the season opener on Sept. 13, what will his role look like after missing all of the preseason with a knee injury?
Al Golden, the Bengals’ second-year defensive coordinator, shed light on what the focus for Stewart is right now as he works his way back into practice. Stewart hyperextended his knee on July 29 and didn’t return to the field until Sept. 2.
“He needed the offseason and he needed training camp and he didn’t get that. So, (there’s) nothing we can do about that. So, A, the physical aspect you saw him out there today, he looked good. We will monitor him tomorrow and see if there are any setbacks and if he continues to be able to hold the workload then we will continue to progress
him.”
Stewart is entering a make-or-break season for the Bengals because of how his career started with the franchise.
The Bengals selected Stewart with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It was deemed a controversial pick by pundits and fans due to his lack of production at Texas A&M.
Cincinnati bet on his potential, and it’s why his decision to not participate in the Bengals’ offseason in his rookie season because of a contract dispute with the club was so perplexing. Ultimately, the Bengals and Stewart were able to come to an agreement, and he started practicing three days after the start of camp.
Due to the time missed on the field that offseason, Stewart was always going to enter the season behind where the team wanted and needed him to be. Then, as he was starting to hit his stride, he suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 and missed three games.
Stewart battled back from the ankle injury and was then greeted with another obstacle to overcome when he suffered a knee injury in early November. He missed a month with the injury and was able to play in a total of eight games in his rookie season and recorded one sack.
Shemar Stewart's 2026 offseason was uneventful
The 2026 offseason was the first time Stewart was healthy with no distractions. He participated fully in the offseason workout program and was eager to make the most of a full training camp.
It’s why his most recent injury was tough to swallow for the player and the Bengals’ coaching staff.
“We can’t do anything about lost time,” Golden said. “Clearly, this is Year 2 for him, too. It’s not like a year ago where everything is new both technique and concept. From that standpoint the journey shouldn’t be as long to try to get him back.”
The Bengals are hopeful that the time he’s spent in the meeting rooms and the limited game reps he saw last year will help him get reacclimated quicker.
Cincinnati is hoping to utilize Stewart in a big way as they look to improve as a pass rushing unit. The Bengals need to know if they’ll be able to count on Stewart after the 2026 season and getting him back on the field at full strength is essential.
If he’s unable to play against the Bucs on Sunday, the Bengals will keep trying to progress him. The Bengals follow the Bucs game with two tough road games against Houston and Pittsburgh, and the faster they can get Stewart back, the better.
“I looked at it today and saw him and was very encouraged and excited,” Golden said. “Would just love to get back to work with him. Hopefully we can get some consistency there and he can continue to improve.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What does Shemar Stewart's role look like for Bengals? Al Golden explains
