The Bengals are placing rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart on IR with a knee injury, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports. Stewart will miss a minimum of 4 games. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 15.
Stewart, whom the Bengals selected seventeenth overall out of Texas A&M, made headlines after the draft during a lengthy contract dispute. After a protracted battle over default language in his contract, the 22-year-old finally inked his first NFL deal on July 26. The agreement got here after the Bengals agreed to regulate his signing bonus payment schedule.
Stewart, who didn’t practice with the Bengals in any respect before signing, has gotten off to a slow start in the professionals. A polarizing prospect who totaled just 4.5 sacks in 37 college games, Stewart hasn’t recorded any in his first five contests (4 starts) with the Bengals. He previously missed 4 games because of this of a Week 2 ankle injury.
When healthy enough to play, Stewart has amassed 177 defensive snaps and picked up six tackles, including a personal-best three in a loss to the Bears in Week 9. With the Bengals on a bye last week, the Chicago game will go down as Stewart’s last for some time.
Attempting to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, the 3-6 Bengals are heading right into a huge matchup with the AFC North-leading Steelers (5-4) on Sunday. The Bengals’ last-ranked defense could have to make do without Stewart and superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who will miss his third straight game with a hip/pelvis injury. Joseph Ossai, Myles Murphy, and Cameron Sample will serve because the Bengals’ top options at defensive end.