Shemar Stewart carted off with apparent leg injury at Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart, the team’s second-year standout, was carted off the practice field with an apparent left leg injury on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The incident occurred at Paycor Stadium during the very first 11-on-11 drills of training camp, immediately raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming NFL season.
Stewart, who couldn’t put weight on his left leg, was expected to play a significantly larger role this year. This early setback casts a shadow over the Bengals’ defensive preparations, which had been bolstered to contend for a Super Bowl.
Early injury clouds Bengals training camp
The unfortunate incident unfolded quickly during Cincinnati’s inaugural full-team offensive and defensive repetitions. Shemar Stewart went down on only his second snap in 11-on-11 drills, visibly distressed on the turf.
He initially managed to limp off the field, but it soon became clear he couldn’t continue under his own power. Trainers attended to the young pass rusher, working to stretch his left leg on the sidelines. Ultimately, medical staff loaded Stewart onto a cart, driving him away for further evaluation.
On-field reports detail Stewart’s immediate distress
Reporters at the scene provided real-time observations of the unfolding situation. Jay Morrison noted that Stewart “limped off. Trainers are working on him. He took his jersey off and is getting on a cart and leaving.” This suggested a level of discomfort necessitating off-field treatment.
WLWT’s Charlie Clifford added that Stewart “hobbled off with the training staff” and confirmed his carted departure. Clifford also highlighted that trainers were “stretching out his left leg on the field beforehand,” indicating immediate localized pain. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic corroborated these accounts, specifying Stewart was favoring his left knee and couldn’t bear weight after attempting to put pressure on it.
Potential knee injury adds to defensive concerns
While the official diagnosis remains pending, speculation immediately points to the severity of the left leg injury, with many reports suggesting a potential knee issue. This would be particularly troubling given Stewart’s history with lower body ailments.
Sports doctor Jesse Morse, M.D., offered a preliminary assessment based on video of the incident, suggesting the motion appeared consistent with a knee hyperextension. Dr. Morse outlined possibilities ranging from a best-case bone bruise and a PCL sprain to a “very possible” torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Impact on Cincinnati’s defensive depth
An ACL tear would typically sideline a player for eight to 12 months, likely ending their season. Stewart was slated for a significantly larger role this season, expected to be one of the primary rotational defensive linemen behind Myles Murphy and Boye Mafe.
His importance to the defensive line deepened following veteran pass rusher Trey Hendrickson’s departure to Baltimore. Losing Stewart for any prolonged period would force coach Zac Taylor and the Bengals to scramble for solutions.
This situation creates an immediate opportunity for other defensive ends like Cedric Johnson and rookie Cashius Howell to step up. The Bengals can ill afford to lose significant defensive playmaking talent, particularly after investing heavily in shoring up their defense.
Shemar Stewart’s history of leg injuries
This training camp incident isn’t Shemar Stewart’s first significant encounter with injury. His 2025 rookie season was plagued by multiple physical setbacks that significantly limited his on-field time and development.
He played in only eight games and made four starts, missing a total of nine contests. An ankle injury in his second career game forced him to miss four weeks of action. He later spent five weeks on injured reserve with a knee injury in Week 9, returning for the final three games.
Rookie season struggles and notable athleticism
Despite the injuries, Stewart still managed to record 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack during his limited rookie campaign, playing 280 total snaps. He returned for the final three contests, logging eight of his 11 total tackles, his first career sack, and a pass defensed.
Stewart arrived in Cincinnati as the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft with an impressive athletic pedigree. He achieved a perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), ranking him first among 2,029 defensive ends evaluated from 1987 to 2025. His NFL Scouting Combine performance included a 40-inch vertical jump and a 4.59-second 40-yard dash, highlighting his raw talent.
Navigating the NFL’s injury protocol
Should Shemar Stewart’s injury prove severe enough to warrant placement on the NFL’s Injured Reserve (IR) list, the Bengals would adhere to specific protocols. A player placed on IR must miss a minimum of four games, potentially sidelining Stewart for a significant portion of the early regular season.
NFL teams can designate up to eight players to return from IR during the regular season, offering some flexibility for longer-term injuries. Once a player is medically cleared to practice after an IR stint, a 21-day window begins for the team to activate him to the 53-man roster.
Failure to activate within this period means the player remains on IR for the rest of the season.
Bengals’ upcoming schedule and roster adjustments
Recovery periods for leg injuries in the NFL vary considerably based on the nature and severity of the damage. A mild MCL sprain might sideline a player for 2-6 weeks, while a complete MCL rupture could mean 3-6 months away from the field.
The Bengals’ first preseason game is on August 13 against the Detroit Lions, less than a month away. Training camp is currently in the helmet-only phase, with more intense contact still to come. The team will be awaiting an update from Coach Zac Taylor in the coming days regarding Stewart’s status.