RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 2 sourcesJust prior to heading out for the anticipated opening practice of 2026 training camp, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor urged caution for his players. And not just for the first day, but for the first four days as players will only have helmets on – padded practices start next week.
"There's this four-day period here where we've got to get good work in and protect your teammates," Taylor said. "We've got to do a good job protecting ourselves, protecting our teammates these first couple days."
Generally, players heeded that messaging − except for a few noticeable deviations, including the first camp scuffle that broke out around 11:10 a.m.
The Bengals also had edge rusher Shemar Stewart carted off the field .
Those events and others made for quite the training camp curtain raiser down on the banks of the Ohio River. Here are the most important things we saw and learned from Day 1 of Bengals camp:
Helmet flies in scuffle, Bengals players say they were being competitive
It's no small chore trying to figure out what exactly happened to start the scuffle that occurred roughly halfway through the first training camp practice.
What we know for sure is Ja'Marr Chase emerged from a mass of bodies with a helmet in his hand, and it wasn't his helmet. Chase was wearing his. Turns out the helmet belonged to cornerback DJ Turner II, and Chase gave it a mighty heave down the field.
As the scuffle dissipated, Chase and cornerback Jalen Davis had to be separated as they were jawing with one another.
Chase wasn't made available to media after the training camp session ended as he was scheduled to have a press conference July 30, but Turner gave his perspective on the incident, albeit briefly.
"Nothing to it. Brothers fight all the time," Turner said. "It's just competitive, that's all it is. Everybody trying to win. It's just competitive."
Asked to describe how his helmet ended up in Chase's hands, Turner said: "It don't matter. Y'all was out there. There's nothing to it."
Then, after being asked if that was the first time his helmet was thrown during a practice, Turner said he was tired of discussing the subject.
Davis had similar explanations for what went down, saying: "We're just competing."
Does any of this actually matter, or is it an overblown non-issue at a time when the media is grasping for things to talk about? Well, it's certainly noteworthy that Bengals stars were competing that hard so early in training camp. Scenes like that scrap leave an impression, and the takeaway here is a mostly-positive one.
So long as no one is getting hurt in the fights, and no one is playing recklessly to instigate the fighting, it's probably a welcome sight for some to see these Bengals so fired up this early in such an important and anticipated season.
Shemar Stewart is the first injury of camp and was carted off
As intriguing as the scuffle was, the sight of Stewart, the second-year defensive end and No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, being carted off with an injury was just as notable for how concerning it was.
Stewart was carted off the Paycor Stadium practice fields around 11 a.m. During 11-on-11 play, Stewart matched up with offensive tackle Cody Ford, was flattened, and emerged from that encounter with what appeared to be a limp.
As 11-on-11 play continued, Stewart was seated in the offensive backfield as he was attended to. Then, the dreaded golf cart came out to remove Stewart from practice.
The extent of whatever injury Stewart has wasn't immediately disclosed, but it's still concerning after Stewart's rookie season was hampered at the outset by his contract dispute with the organization, and later by injuries.
Stewart, the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was limited to just eight games his rookie year. He collected one sack, and you're looking for a lot more availability and end product than that from your first-round draft pick.
Hopefully, the injury Stewart suffered on July 29 is a quick fix because no one wants to see him sidelined again for long stretches.
Play of the day: Joe Burrow's frozen rope to Ja'Marr Chase
During 11-on-11 play, Burrow dropped a dime to Chase, who couldn't come up with the catch. But the throw itself was a thing of beauty.
Burrow's ball cut through the heart of the secondary, hitting Chase even though he was at least in double coverage, if not triple-coverage.
Frozen rope from Burrow to Ja’Marr in 11’s. Uno just barely couldn’t hang on. pic.twitter.com/b55v1of8Df
— Pat Brennan (@PBrennanENQ) July 29, 2026 All Bengals accounted for on Day 1
Bengals coaches, along with Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin, anticipated as much, but you never know if every player is going to show up until they actually do. And they all did, Taylor said of the Tuesday, July 28 report date.
All players were signed, in camp and participating.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 3 observations, players who stood out on Day 1 at Bengals training camp
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.