The first snap of Cincinnati Bengals training camp was not supposed to be the one that changed the narrative of July.
But it was. On the opening day of camp Wednesday, second-year defensive end Shemar Stewart went down with a left leg injury, required medical attention, and was eventually carted off the field at the team's practice facility. Reports from ESPN and Pro Football Network confirmed the incident. The reaction from the NFL world was immediate. The Bengals' front office response, however, will take weeks to fully evaluate.
Stewart, taken 17th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, entered camp as a projected starting defensive end in Coach Al Golden's scheme. He appeared in 14 games as a rookie, primarily in a rotational role behind Myles Murphy and Boye Mafe. The expectation entering Year 2 was a significant leap--the kind of progress Texas A&M edge prospects typically make when given a full NFL strength and conditioning program. That trajectory is now on hold.
The severity of Stewart's injury remains unclear, as the Bengals have only confirmed the injury and his being carted off without providing further details. This information vacuum will likely be filled with speculation in the next 24 to 48 hours, but the immediate practical reality is clear: the player who was penciled in as the third or fourth defensive end is now, at minimum, the second option on the depth chart.
The Depth Chart Domino
Before Stewart's injury, the Bengals' defensive end room held some depth but leaned heavily on a few top starters with unproven depth behind them.
Projected starters entering camp included Boye Mafe--who joined Cincinnati via trade after a productive stint in Seattle, entering his fifth NFL year--Myles Murphy, a 2023 first-round pick entering his fourth year, and Shemar Stewart. Behind them were Isaiah Foskey (2023 second-round pick, fourth year), Cedric Johnson (2024 sixth-round pick, third year), and rookie Cashius Howell, Cincinnati's 2026 second-round draft pick.
This group collectively possesses 22 career NFL starts, with none having recorded more than 4.0 sacks in a season. Foskey has been a career backup with stints in New Orleans and Cincinnati; Johnson has only two career sacks; and Howell has yet to face live NFL offensive tackles as a rookie.
Duke Tobin, the Bengals' general manager, addressed the defensive line composition at the team's media luncheon the day before Stewart's injury.
"We've got a couple different waves and if you look at some of the really good defenses in the league, that's what they've accomplished," Tobin said. "We believe in all the guys beyond just the starters and we have to have guys that are ready to step in if something were to happen."
That prescient comment came true less than 24 hours later.
Tobin also expressed confidence in the veterans: "I believe in a lot of the young guys that we have coming on and then our veterans in that room have been sensational."
Those veterans refer mainly to Mafe and Murphy. Mafe, who posted 9.0 sacks last season in Seattle before his trade, and Murphy, who has 7.5 sacks over three seasons, are solid NFL starters but not elite stars. The drop-off from Stewart--who had 3.0 sacks as a rookie but was expected to at least double that in an expanded role--to Foskey or Johnson is notable.
The Cap Space Factor
The Bengals currently have $16.47 million in cap space according to Over the Cap, with $10.42 million in dead money and $290.09 million in active spending. This cap room offers flexibility to make a trade or sign a veteran free agent if the medical evaluation on Stewart deems the injury to be long-term.
While the veteran edge rusher market in late July is thin, options like Carl Lawson, Yannick Ngakoue, and Melvin Ingram remain unsigned. Although none of these players are difference-makers anymore, any could provide Cincinnati with a veteran presence who understands rushing the passer in a 4-3 defensive scheme. This is a significant consideration given the injury.
Alternatively, the Bengals could rely on internal solutions. Al Golden's defense is built on a rotational system, and he emphasized the need for improved depth up front: "I think our depth up front would be my first thought for improvement this year."
That improvement was sought after a 2025 season where Cincinnati's defense ranked 22nd in sacks (38.0) and 19th in EPA per pass play allowed. The addition of Dexter Lawrence II in the offseason was intended to enhance the pass rush by commanding double teams, thereby increasing pressure opportunities for edge rushers. Lawrence, a dominant defensive tackle acquired in a blockbuster trade, is a game-wrecker who should free up one-on-one matchups for the ends.
However, with Stewart's injury, the Bengals must lean on Foskey, Johnson, or Howell to win those crucial matchups. None of these players have demonstrated consistent success against starting NFL offensive tackles in pass rush situations.
What This Means for the Defense
The Bengals' 2025 defense was below elite standards, ranking 17th in points allowed and 21st in yards allowed. The front office responded aggressively this offseason by acquiring Lawrence, Mafe, safety Kyle Dugger, and linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr., intending to complement Joe Burrow and the increasingly potent passing attack.
Now, that plan encounters a significant hurdle even before the pads come on.
Stewart was more than a part-time rotational player; he was the designated pass-rush specialist in sub-packages, especially on third-and-long situations. Internal tracking shows Stewart played 47% of defensive snaps in obvious passing situations in 2025. His rookie metrics placed him in the 90th percentile for get-off time and the 82nd percentile for pass-rush win rate among defensive ends drafted in the first two rounds. This talent allowed the Bengals to part ways with veteran edge rushers during free agency, counting on Stewart's progression.
If Stewart misses significant time, the Bengals face tough choices: possibly shifting Lawrence to a defensive end role in some looks, where he had limited snaps last season, or giving a majority snap share to Foskey, who remains unproven as a consistent edge rusher. Neither scenario is ideal.
Zac Taylor, the Bengals head coach, addressed roster depth at his recent press conference: "We've got a lot of depth there. And a lot of depth that we're excited to watch play."
That confidence is now being tested earlier than anticipated.
The Betting-Market Implications
DraftKings currently lists the Bengals at +2200 to win Super Bowl LXI, placing them sixth-best in the AFC behind the Chiefs (+550), Bills (+700), Ravens, Texans, and Chargers. A serious injury to a key edge rusher like Stewart would likely push those odds further out, as the betting markets price teams based on their best 11 on offense and defense.
Losing Stewart, arguably Cincinnati's second-most important pass rusher, could mean an 8-to-10 sack decline in pass-rush projection. In projection models, that translates roughly to half a win lost over the season, a significant deficit for a team chasing a championship.
Final Thoughts
The Bengals are justified in their confidence about the defensive line overall. The addition of Lawrence and the continued development of Murphy and Mafe gives Cincinnati a superior base compared to previous seasons. But Stewart's injury is a gut punch due to its timing and player role.
It is a gut punch because it occurred on Day 1 of camp--before the rotation could be established, before rookie Howell could prove himself, and before the team could absorb the blow smoothly. Unlike an experienced veteran, there is no "next man up" replacement ready to fill the unique role of a first-round pick. Instead, the Bengals face scheme adjustments and hope for the best in recovery.
If acting as the team's decision-makers, a logical move would be to reach out to veteran edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue with a one-year, veteran-minimum deal plus a modest signing bonus. Ngakoue, a 31-year-old with 73 career sacks, still can rush effectively and would offer a known quality solution. While not a long-term answer, his presence would stabilize the rotation.
The Bengals are chasing a championship this year. As GM Duke Tobin stated: "We want to be the team standing at the end of the day. That is what we want."
To be that team, Cincinnati needs edge rushers who can make plays in January. Stewart was supposed to be one of those key players. Now, the Bengals must find another way.
The coming 48 hours will likely reveal that way--whether it be internal development, signing a veteran free agent, or hoping Stewart's injury is minor and he returns quickly. The smart bet is that this injury will accelerate roster moves. The question remains: will those moves be enough to keep Cincinnati's championship hopes alive?
