×

Bengals DE Shemar Stewart (knee) avoids major injury after scare

By Thomson Reuters Jul 30, 2026 | 12:25 PM

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart will be out several weeks with a hyperextended ​left knee but has “avoided major ‌injury,” head coach Zac Taylor said Thursday.

“Very fortunate, because it obviously looked bad,” Taylor said. “The good news is we’ll ‌be ​getting him back ⁠sooner rather than ⁠later.”

Stewart, a first-round draft pick in 2025, sustained the injury during 11-on-11 drills in the opening ​session of Bengals training camp on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on ⁠just the second ⁠rep, when Stewart became entangled ​with offensive lineman Cody Ford as ​he rushed the passer.

The 22-year-old went ‌down immediately and was helped off the field, where trainers assessed him on the sidelines. He ⁠was carted off for further evaluation after it was determined he could not ⁠put ‌weight on his left ⁠leg.

Stewart, the 17th overall pick ​in ‌2025 out of Texas ​A&M, played ⁠in just eight games (five starts) during his rookie season due to ankle and knee injuries. He recorded 11 tackles and one sack.

–Field ​Level Media