Bengals' Shemar Stewart hyperextends knee at training camp
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- Shemar Stewart suffered a hyperextended left knee on the first day of Bengals training camp and was carted off the field; the belief from a source is that no ligament damage occurred.
- Stewart was spotted Wednesday in a protective leg brace and on crutches as he receives treatment.
- Stewart, Cincinnati's 2025 first-round pick, totaled just one sack in eight games during an injury-plagued rookie season, missing time after hurting his knee in Week 2 against Jacksonville.
- Last year, Stewart missed the start of training camp because he had not signed his rookie contract and skipped rookie minicamp and all offseason practices by refusing to sign a practice waiver.
- The Bengals invested heavily at defensive end this offseason, signing free agent Boye Mafe and drafting Cashius Howell in the second round, with Myles Murphy (2023 first-round pick) a projected starter.
Why it matters: Stewart is now facing his second consecutive training camp disrupted, after managing just one sack in eight games as a rookie. The Bengals clearly hedged their bet by signing Boye Mafe and drafting Cashius Howell, giving them experienced depth behind Myles Murphy if Stewart's development continues to stall.
