Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart finally hit the practice field again on September 2, but don’t let that fool you into thinking everything’s smooth sailing. Defensive coordinator Al Golden just shed some serious light on the situation, and it’s looking like a make-or-break season for the No. 17 overall pick. His chances of even suiting up for the season opener against the Bucs this Sunday are still a massive question mark.
Back on the Field, But Still Playing Catch-Up
Stewart hyperextended his knee way back on July 29, missing literally all of preseason and the entire offseason program. Golden wasn’t holding back, saying straight up, “He needed the offseason and he needed training camp and he didn’t get that. So, (there’s) nothing we can do about that.” Ouch. While Stewart looked physically good out there on September 2, the team’s still monitoring him daily for any setbacks. They need him to hold that workload if they’re gonna progress him at all.
A Rocky Road From Day One for the Former Top Pick
Let’s be real, Stewart’s career hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride since the Bengals snagged him with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Pundits and fans called it a “controversial pick” even then, mainly ’cause of his lack of production at Texas A&M. Then, his rookie season? A whole mess. He actually skipped the offseason program due to a contract dispute! After they finally sorted that out, he got an ankle injury in Week 2, missing three games. Not long after, a knee injury in early November knocked him out for another month. He ended up playing only eight games his rookie year and grabbed just one sack. The 2026 offseason was supposed to be his fresh start, fully healthy and distraction-free, participating in everything… until *this* knee injury hit.
The Clock Is Ticking on a Crucial Pass Rusher
Golden put it bluntly: “We can’t do anything about lost time.” This is Year 2 for Stewart, and the hope is that his limited game reps from last year and all that time in the meeting rooms will speed up his reacclimation. But the Bengals have big plans for him, aiming to utilize him “in a big way” to beef up their pass rushing unit. It’s not just about this season, either. The team absolutely needs to know if they can count on Stewart after the 2026 season. Getting him back at full strength is essential, because if he can’t go against the Bucs, they’ll just keep trying to progress him with the two games that follow.
So, yeah, the Bengals are kicking off their season against the Bucs on Sunday. Every snap Stewart takes, assuming he even plays, is gonna be under a microscope. They need that pass rush, and they seriously need to figure out what they really have in their former first-round pick, and they need to know it fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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