The Bengals may be headed into Madrid with a bigger role waiting for Shemar Stewart.
Cincinnati’s first-round pick in 2025 has seen limited action since arriving, and the conversation around his playing time has picked up in recent weeks. That’s been part of the backdrop as the Bengals prepare for an early morning primetime matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, coming off a stressful overtime win over the Tennessee Titans and chasing their sixth victory of the season.
Zac Taylor addressed Stewart’s situation this week and pointed to both the rookie’s approach and the state of Cincinnati’s defensive line.
“I’ve seen a lot of positive from Shemar. The good part for our team is we have a really deep defensive line group, and that hasn’t been about what Shemar’s been doing, right or wrong. It’s been that we’ve had a really strong group, but now he’s going to get more of an opportunity with Cashius being out, and he’s prepared himself for this moment,” Taylor told reporters this week.
Taylor added, “I’m really excited to see him get that opportunity. He’s approached it the right way.
He’s had a really good mindset throughout this season. He missed a lot of training camp.
That was as big as anything. That was an issue.
So, I’m excited to watch Shemar going forward. He’s done everything the right way, and we’re going for him.”
The path to more snaps is there now. Cashius Howell is on IR, and Cedric Johnson has been dealing with some injury issues, which could open the door for Stewart to get on the field more often.
And if that happens, Cincinnati may need every bit of Stewart’s athleticism. The Bengals could use his skill set Sunday morning against Bijan Robinson, one of the league’s most dangerous runners.
In Other News...
Joe Burrows Game Day Choice Could Start A New Bengals Debate
Joe Burrows game-day wardrobe drew a little extra attention during the Bengals Week 9 meeting with the Falcons, when he stepped out in custom orange-and-black Caddix cleats. The brand has been making noise around the league lately, helped along by interest from players and even endorsements from figures like Tom Brady, and Burrows choice fit neatly into the kind of style-conscious image he has built in Cincinnati.
The wrinkle is that Caddix is not an NFL-approved brand, which is where the conversation gets interesting for a player with Burrows visibility. Other players have already run into trouble for wearing the same cleats, and with Joe Flacco also connected to the brand, Burrows choice could easily spark a fresh Bengals-side debate about where fashion ends and league rules begin. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Get A Huge AFC North Test After Steelers Bye Week
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For Cincinnati, the timing only raises the stakes for what comes next. The Bengals will get the division leader in prime time at Paycor Stadium on Nov. 15, with NBC carrying the matchup and streaming available on Fubo, and it arrives as one of the clearest measuring-stick games left on the schedule. If the Bengals want to make up ground in the AFC North, this is the kind of test that can shape the rest of the race. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Face A Real D-Line Test In Week 9
The Bengals are heading into Week 9 with a thinner group than usual, and the injury report is starting to squeeze both sides of the roster. Safety Kyle Dugger, offensive tackle Myles Hinton, defensive end Cedric Johnson, center Connor Lew and defensive tackle Landon Robinson are all expected to be inactive against the Falcons, while rookie Cashius Howell remains on injured reserve after wrist surgery. For a team trying to keep its footing in a tough matchup, the front line of availability is already shaping the game plan.
Cedric Johnsons ankle injury is part of the issue, and it comes at a time when Cincinnati is already managing a defensive line that has been stretched by absences. Zac Taylor pointed to the depth up front and the limited playing time of Shemar Stewart, which suggests the Bengals may have to lean on different combinations than they planned. Against Atlanta, the real question is how much the rotation can absorb before the pressure on the line starts to show. [Read more 🡒]