RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesShemar Stewart injury update: Latest news on Bengals DE after gruesome leg injury originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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The Bengals are desperate for pass-rush production this season with Trey Hendrickson now playing in Baltimore, and those hopes hinge partly on Shemar Stewart.
The 2025 first-round pick spent much of his first summer in the NFL locked in a rare rookie contract dispute with the Bengals, and he validated concerns about a lack of production in college with a quiet rookie season.
Cincinnati is hoping for a breakout season in 2026, but right now, the Bengals might just be hoping he can get on the field at all after suffering a gruesome-looking injury in training camp on Wednesday.
Here are the latest updates on Stewart's status.
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Shemar Stewart injury update
Stewart was carted off the practice field Wednesday with an apparent knee injury.
While the news that a player was carted off isn't always the best indicator of the severity of an injury in training camp, as practice fields are often far from the facility and carts are commonly used, video of the injury is concerning:
🎥 Video of Shemar Stewart’s injury: Fair warning… It’s not a fun watch 😕 #Bengals @WCPO pic.twitter.com/IPjcI2Qhlx
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) July 29, 2026 The video appears to show Stewart's leg bent awkwardly at the knee, which will have Bengals fans concerned until he undergoes more tests. Stewart was reportedly unable to put any weight on his injured leg before being carted off.
Here is #Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart from 2025 being carted off the field He was unable to put any weight on his left leg leaving the field. Medical staff looked at him on the field briefly and then called the cart to take him inside 📸: @SGdoesit pic.twitter.com/dkTHNsqvTh
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) July 29, 2026 The Bengals will hope Stewart's injury looks worse than it actually is, but they will be holding their breath for the time being.
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Bengals EDGE depth chart
Rank DE DE 1 Boye Mafe Myles Murphy 2 Cashius Howell Shemar Stewart 3 Cedric Johnson Isaiah Foskey 4 Antwaun Powell-Ryland Stewart didn't enter camp guaranteed a starting role after playing eight games and starting five as a rookie. New addition Boye Mafe is expected to be one of the Bengals' starting defensive ends, while former first-round pick Myles Murphy could have the inside track on the other starting job after recording 5.5 sacks and starting 10 games last season.
Still, most defenses rotate pass-rushers to keep them fresh. The Bengals don't have a star like they once did in Hendrickson, so they are counting on other players, including Stewart and rookie second-round pick Cashius Howell, to step up when their number is called.
If Stewart is out long term, Howell could see additional responsibilities, even if that doesn't come with a starting role.
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