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Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart left the first practice of training camp on a cart Wednesday after suffering a left leg injury during team drills. The 2025 first-round pick later appeared on crutches with a brace while the team awaited imaging results.
Shemar Stewart left the practice field on a cart Wednesday after hyperextending his left knee.
The Bengals’ 2025 first-round pick couldn’t put weight on the leg and needed help off the field.
The Shemar Stewart injury raises fresh questions about a Bengals defensive front already thin on proven pass rushers. It happened on just the second rep of 11-on-11 drills. That was the first team period of the Bengals’ first training camp practice.
Stewart’s left leg buckled as he worked to get past offensive lineman Cody Ford. Multiple reporters at the Wednesday session described the same sequence, including The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., who wrote that Stewart went down behind the drill and tried to put pressure on the leg but couldn’t. He then went down and stayed on the ground as trainers examined him. The team called for a cart, and he did not return to practice. Afterward, ESPN reported Stewart was seen on crutches with a protective brace on his left leg.
No team official has released a diagnosis or timeline. Video of the play, though, spread quickly among reporters and fans. Two doctors who reviewed it offered early, unofficial reads. Dr. David Chao, a former NFL team physician who posts injury analysis as ProFootballDoc, called it a significant hyperextension with ligament tears. He said he worried about a season-ending injury, though he hoped Stewart avoids nerve damage. Sports doctor Jesse Morse offered a range instead: a best-case bone bruise and PCL sprain, or a worst-case torn ACL, which he called very possible based on the video.
Those are informed guesses, not test results. Bengals coach Zac Taylor hasn’t commented publicly on the injury’s severity. Reporters expect the team to wait for MRI results before saying more.
What a Knee Hyperextension Can Involve
A hyperextension happens when the knee bends backward past its normal range. Often some twisting or sideways force gets added too. That combination can strain or tear more than one ligament at once. The same motion that stresses the ACL or PCL can also load the ligaments on the inside or outside of the knee.
In fact, doctors call an injury to two or more of the knee’s four major ligaments a multi-ligament knee injury. These are serious injuries. They can also involve the meniscus, cartilage, or nearby nerves and blood vessels, which is why Chao specifically flagged nerve damage as a risk to watch. Surgery is the usual path for high-grade cases in young, active patients. Recovery commonly runs nine to twelve months, sometimes longer. None of this confirms the exact nature of the Shemar Stewart injury, though. It only explains why doctors reacted to the video the way they did.
Stewart’s Injury-Marred Rookie Season
The Shemar Stewart injury marks the second time in less than a year that his knee has sidelined him. Cincinnati took Stewart 17th overall out of Texas A&M in the 2025 draft. The team then signed him to a four-year, $18.97 million contract. A preseason contract dispute delayed his rookie ramp-up, and health problems followed. He missed four games early in the season with an ankle injury. Then he hurt his knee in Week 9 against the Bears and spent five games on injured reserve.
Stewart returned for the final three games and recorded his first career sack against Arizona in Week 17. He finished the season with 11 tackles, one sack and one pass breakup across eight games. Even so, the Bengals hoped a healthy offseason would set up a bigger role for him in Year 2.
What the Shemar Stewart Injury Means for the Bengals
The Shemar Stewart injury leaves Cincinnati’s defensive end room thinner than planned heading into 2026. As a result, a long-term absence would push more snaps toward players like Myles Murphy and Cedric Johnson. The Bengals haven’t set a timetable, and nothing changes that until imaging results come back. For now, the team is treating it like any other camp injury: a wait-and-see situation until the tests say otherwise.
FAQs
What injury did Shemar Stewart suffer?
The Bengals have only confirmed that Stewart suffered a left leg injury during training camp. He is undergoing further evaluation, and no official diagnosis has been announced.
How did Shemar Stewart get injured?
Stewart appeared to hyperextend or buckle his left knee during an 11-on-11 team drill, then left the field unable to bear weight on his leg.
Was Shemar Stewart carted off the field?
Yes. After attempting to walk off, Stewart was carted to the locker room and was later seen on crutches wearing a protective brace.
How serious is Shemar Stewart's injury?
The severity is not yet known. Imaging and additional medical tests are expected to determine whether the injury is minor or more significant.
Who is Shemar Stewart?
Shemar Stewart is a defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals and the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M.
How did Shemar Stewart perform last season?
In an injury-shortened rookie season, Stewart appeared in about eight games, recording 11 tackles and one sack.
What does this mean for the Bengals defense?
If Stewart misses significant time, Cincinnati may need to rely more heavily on its remaining defensive line depth while adjusting its pass-rush rotation.
This article was researched and produced using a combination of artificial intelligence, publicly available information, and human editorial review. Every factual claim has been reviewed against available sources at the time of publication. Because this is a developing story, details may change as the Cincinnati Bengals release additional information. If new verified facts emerge, this article will be updated accordingly.
