Shemar Stewart is still finding his way with the Cincinnati Bengals after a prolonged holdout that wasn’t resolved until late July. On Wednesday, teammates delivered a pointed message to the first-round rookie defensive end on the need to properly harness his intensity in a practice setting.
Stewart ignited a scuffle during practice when he bumped into quarterback Joe Burrow during a play. Right guard Lucas Patrick confronted the defender, with teammates quickly arriving to separate the two.
Center Ted Karras, a 10th-year who has been a captain for all three of his previous seasons with the Bengals, said the offensive line was ultimately responsible for Burrow’s well-being, noting, “We gotta be better up front.” But he also called for better judgment from the No. 17 overall pick out of Texas A&M.
Asked if he appreciated the edge Stewart brought to the defensive line, Karras said Wednesday, “Hell yeah. Just be smarter. … Come on, man. That’s all our hopes and dreams right there.”
Safeguarding Burrow has been a lofty challenge for the Bengals’ maligned offensive line throughout the quarterback’s five-year career. Cincinnati’s offensive front ranked last in ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric in 2024, and the two-time Pro Bowl signal-caller tied for fourth with 48 sacks taken. Burrow missed the final seven games of the 2023 season after suffering a torn ligament in his right wrist.
With receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins re-signed to massive extensions this offseason, the Bengals are once again counting on Burrow to shoulder a heavy load and lead the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
Stewart, meanwhile, is expected to help revitalize the defensive front and made a strong early impression on teammates.
“He’s been making some plays out there for us,” defensive tackle B.J. Hill said earlier in August. “He’s a strong, physical, big-time athlete who can do a lot of things for us. Inside or outside. Glad to have him on our side. When he learns this defense, things are going to very explosive for our defense.”
