What Is Shemar Stewart's Timeline to Return from Injury? Latest Updates on Bengals DE

The Cincinnati Bengals plan to place rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart on injured reserve Saturday due to a knee injury, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

That means Stewart will have to miss at least the next four games, including Sunday's road contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will first be eligible to return from IR against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15.

Stewart, 22, went 17th overall to the Bengals in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, and he has started four of the five games he has appeared in during his rookie campaign.

The former Texas A&M standout made headlines throughout training camp since he was the last first-round pick to sign his rookie contract on July 25.

Despite getting a late start, Stewart played nearly 50 percent of the Bengals' defensive snaps in their season opener, and he earned his first career start the following week.

However, an ankle injury forced Stewart to miss a month of action, which coincided with a four-game losing streak for the Bengals from Week 3 through 6.

Stewart returned to play in each of the Bengals' past three games, but he suffered a knee injury before the team's Week 10 bye, and it is serious enough to keep him on the shelf for another month.

Through five games, Stewart has yet to record his first NFL sack, although he has registered six tackles and one quarterback hit.

Stewart's absence would normally place the onus on four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson to step up, but he is out Sunday due to a hip injury.

With both Stewart and Hendrickson set to miss Sunday's game, 2021 third-round pick Joseph Ossai and 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy are likely to draw the starts against Pittsburgh.

Ossai is second on the team in sacks this season with three, while Murphy has recorded 1.5 sacks.

The Bengals are 29th in the NFL this season with just 13 sacks, and getting to the quarterback won't get any easier without Stewart and Hendrickson.

Cincinnati is also last in the NFL in total defense and scoring defense, which is a big reason why the team is a disappointing 3-6.

The Bengals have also been without superstar quarterback Joe Burrow since Week 2 due to a toe injury, and although his 21-day practice window was opened this week, they are on the verge of falling out of playoff contention regardless.