The Bengals dodge a major blow as Stewart's frightening knee injury proves far less severe than initially feared.
What looked like a nightmare scenario for the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday quickly turned into one of the best outcomes they could have hoped for just 24 hours later.
Shemar Stewart suffered a scary-looking leg injury during the team's first open practice of training camp Wednesday. His leg appeared to bend into an awkward position, prompting him to fall to the ground during the first 11-on-11 drills of the week.
Trainers rushed onto the field as Stewart was unable to put any weight on the leg. He was carted off in obvious pain and left the facility on crutches while wearing a brace on his left leg, hoping for the best as he underwent additional evaluation.
Most feared he had suffered a torn ACL or other significant ligament damage that would sideline him for the entire season. Social media was flooded with videos of the injury, and few believed the second-year defensive end would be back on the field anytime soon.
Stewart watched Thursday's practice from the sideline on crutches while anxiously waiting to learn his fate. Fortunately for Stewart, further medical testing provided a sense of relief not only for him, but also for his teammates, coaches and fans.
Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed the diagnosis while speaking to the media Thursday, saying Stewart avoided a major injury.
"It was hard to see him go down like that," Taylor said. "The good news is that we'll be getting him back sooner rather than later."
Stewart suffered a hyperextended knee with no ligament damage, which appears to be the best-case scenario considering how the injury looked. He will reportedly miss "several weeks," according to Taylor, who did not provide an exact timeline for the young edge rusher's return. Stewart will receive treatment in hopes of returning to practice before training camp concludes.
Obviously, this is less than ideal for Stewart as he looks to make a jump from a less-than-stellar rookie season, but it represents a massive victory for the Bengals. If they want Stewart to become a future cornerstone of the defense in Cincinnati, he needs as many reps as possible to continue his development.
The Bengals will likely proceed cautiously with Stewart's injury, especially during the early stages of training camp. For a franchise that has already dealt with its share of preseason injury scares in recent years, Thursday's diagnosis was about as good as anyone could have hoped for. Stewart avoided disaster, and Cincinnati's plans for its young defense remain firmly intact heading into the 2026 season.
