Zac Taylor: Bengals ‘fortunate’ on Shemar Stewart injury, nonetheless DE will omit plenty of weeks

Shemar Stewart leaves practice on a cart Wednesday. Sam Greene / Imagn Pictures

July 30, 2026 Up to date 12:28 pm EDT

Cincinnati Bengals head trainer Zac Taylor said on Thursday that defensive conclude Shemar Stewart have shyed away from a elementary injury with what changed into out to be a hyperextended knee on Wednesday.

The 2025 first-spherical pick out (No. 17) from Texas A&M was once carted off at the concept day of training camp after his left knee zigzag inside the incorrect route proper through a play. Taylor said the Bengals care for been fortunate, nonetheless added that Stewart will omit plenty of weeks.

Stewart’s injury took self-discipline proper through the main 11-on-11 consultation of training camp. On a circulate play, Stewart was once dashing the passer and gave the impression to hyperextend his left knee.

He went down immediately old-fashioned to being helped off the self-discipline. Running shoes worked on his knee old-fashioned to he tried to face, nonetheless he would consistent with probability consistent with probability consistent with probability additionally now not construct any weight on his left leg. Stewart looked frustrated and was once finally carted off the practice self-discipline.

Stewart had an unremarkable rookie season after a freelance holdout proper through closing 365 days’s training camp. An ankle injury suffered in Week 2 stamp him 4 video games, and a knee injury in Week 9 landed him on injured reserve for a period. He carried out in 8 video games, recording one sack.

The Bengals invested in their defensive position this offseason, signing unfastened brokers Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen, buying and selling for defensive deal with Dexter Lawrence and settling on edge rusher Cashius Howell inside the second one round of this 365 days’s draft.