The Bengals announced today that rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart was not only out for the Steelers game, but that he was being placed on injured reserve meaning that he would be out for a minimum of four games. He has already faced a myriad of injuries this year to both his ankle and knee, and this looks like yet another setback to what has been a very rough rookie year for the Bengals controversial first round pick.
ANOTHER SETBACK FOR SHEMAR STEWART
The most important thing to help young players develop in the NFL is consistent reps on the field that will allow them to adjust to the blistering pace of the game. That is especially true for a player like Shemar who did not produce to a high level at the collegiate level, where he only tallied 4.5 sacks over three years at Texas A&M.
Stewart may be the most divisive first round pick in recent memory for a Cincinnati franchise that has been roasted for their bad draft day selections for the past half decade. His contract holdout and general attitude about playing in the NFL certainly has not helped the perception that he may already be a bust after not even a full season. Without question it’s true that he is extremely raw and extremely young, but to add “frequently injured” to that resume it simply does not inspire confidence that he can develop into an impact player.
And to be fair the main problem is that the Bengals haven’t shown they can actually draft and develop a defensive player in recent memory. That was why so many questioned the selection of a “project” like Stewart in the first place, especially when we needed impact defensive players now, not two or three years in the future.
It is far too early to label Stewart a bust. But his attitude and lack of production surely do not help his perception amongst Bengals fans. The hope is that he returns and works alongside Trey Hendrickson (for however long he may remain a Bengal) to learn and grow and perhaps make an impact in 2026 and beyond. Maybe he has been playing hurt and the explains his lack of impact, and if that’s the case then getting him healthy is all the more important for a guy as young as he is.
