The Cincinnati Bengals left defensive end Shemar Stewart inactive for Sunday’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, and an injury wasn’t behind the decision.
According to FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith, Stewart was a healthy scratch because of Cincinnati’s packed defensive line room and needs elsewhere on the roster.
Goldsmith reported that Stewart has been 10th in the defensive line rotation throughout the season, behind players including Cashius Howell, Cedric Johnson and Kris Jenkins.
“Looks like a numbers game on a deep D-Line,” Goldsmith wrote.
Shemar Stewart is a healthy scratch today and is inactive. Looks like a numbers game on a deep D-Line. He has been 10th on the depth chart on the defensive line (behind Cashius Howell, Ced Johnson, Kris Jenkins
and others) all season, and this week all 10 are healthy and the…
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) October 25, 2026
With all 10 defensive linemen healthy this week, Cincinnati prioritized additional depth at other positions and on special teams.
The decision also comes with doubts about Stewart’s future.
When Stewart's playing status was revealed, Underdog NFL reporter Arye Pulli noted trade rumors involving the defensive end had surfaced during the week.
All in all, it's a notable position for a player the Bengals selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
The hope for Stewart now is to gain a bigger role in a defensive front that had enough ready-to-go bodies to leave him off Sunday’s active roster.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Why didn't Bengals' Shemar Stewart play?
