Cincinnati just confirmed that their star wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, are both set to play in Sunday’s Week 1 opener against the Buccaneers. This is massive for the Bengals offense, knowing their top weapons are ready to roll, but the defensive side of the ball has some real questions heading into kickoff.
Shemar Stewart’s Knee Is a Major Red Flag for Week 1
While the receivers are good to go, defensive end Shemar Stewart is looking doubtful for Sunday’s game, and his knee is the reason. This isn’t just a minor tweak, his status has actively gotten worse throughout the week. Stewart was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, which usually points to a player being on track. But then Thursday hit, and he was downgraded to limited. The biggest concern? He didn’t participate at all in Friday’s session. That kind of regression for a key defensive player right before the season kicks off is never a good sign. As a rookie last season, Stewart showed flashes in his eight games, racking up 11 total tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits. Losing that kind of interior pressure for the season opener is a real blow, and the Bengals will have to figure out how to fill that gap if he truly can’t go.
Offensive Stars Ready to Shine, Defensive Backfield Gets a Boost
Thankfully for Cincinnati fans, the news is a lot brighter on offense. Despite a knee issue, Ja’Marr Chase is officially set to play. He didn’t practice on Friday, but the team called it a “rest day,” which is a huge relief. You never want your top target pushing it too hard right before the season begins. Tee Higgins, dealing with a foot injury, is also cleared and ready for action. Having both of these explosive playmakers on the field from day one is critical for an offense that wants to start strong. On the other side of the ball, cornerback DJ Turner is also set to play, even though he was limited in practice for the last two days with a hamstring issue. It sounds like the Bengals’ 53-man roster, aside from Stewart, is otherwise healthy to play, which is about as good as you can ask for going into a brutal NFL season.
It’s all kicking off on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET as the Bengals host the Buccaneers. While the offense is loaded and ready, all eyes will be on that defensive line to see how they handle the absence of Stewart, if he indeed sits. The season starts now, and every snap matters!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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