When the Cincinnati Bengals selected Shemar Stewart with the 17th-overall pick in last Spring’s NFL Draft, there was a collective groan among Who Dey Nation. Why would they waste a first-round pick on a guy with only 4.5 sacks in three seasons in the SEC? Well, in short time, Stewart began to show what the team saw in him.
Rookie Playmaker Expected to Return for Bengals Vs. Steelers
While the Bengals didn’t immediately thrust the young pass rusher into action, Stewart earned his way up the depth chart and began to make an impact despite scarce playing time. In two games, Stewart has a grand total of one solo tackle and one assisted tackle. However, most of his impact is not on the statsheet. In the season-opening win over the Cleveland Browns, Stewart was on the field for 37 defensive snaps and did not record a tackle. Despite that, Pro Football Focus loved his debut.
Shemar Stewart in his #Bengals debut:
3 pressures
Generated some serious pressure during his 37 snaps. Interested to see how he develops this season
pic.twitter.com/vigYxhkXli
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 9, 2025
The rookie from Texas A&M earned an 88.9 grade, the second-best on the defense for the game. Again, he didn’t record a single tackle. At the same time, he generated three pressures, and was the star of a viral moment on Twitter as he tossed away “Big Thanos” Dawand Jones as if he was a 160-pound slot receiver. His 26.1% pass-rush win rate was the second-best among rookie defensive linemen in the week. Stewart also had a batted pass at the line that was wiped away by a defensive holding.
After being knocked out of the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Stewart’s ankle seems healed enough that he’s set to return on Thursday Night.
Stewart’s expected return comes at a perfect time. Trey Hendrickson was knocked out of last week’s loss to the Green Bay Packers with some sort of hip injury. Over the last few seasons, Hendrickson has not just been the star of the defense; he was the defense. Considering the fact that he is a pass-rush specialist, it just goes to show why the Bengals’ defense has struggled.
Thus far this year, Hendrickson is off to a solid start. He has four sacks, 15 total tackles, three tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. His sack production has slowed down a bit. Hendrickson recorded a sack in each of the first two games and has only managed any more in the loss to Detroit, when he sacked Jared Goff twice.
Aside from Hendrickson, the pass rush is nonexistent. He represents four of the 10 sacks from the defensive line, with Joseph Ossai behind him with two sacks. With back-to-back DNPs from Hendrickson leading up to the Thursday Night matchup with the Steelers, there is a tangible fear that the star pass rusher will be unavailable.
As much as the Bengals would like to get Stewart and Hendrickson in the lineup for what could be considered a must-win game already this year, only having Stewart is a fine consolation prize.
Time For A Shemar Stewart Breakout
Aaron Rodgers is approximately 70 years old, but he is showing with his new team that he can still sling it. The Steelers’ offensive line has allowed nine sacks, tied for the sixth-fewest in the NFL. Part of that is due to the fact that Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense prioritize getting the ball out quickly. Remember the infamous Germaine Pratt interview, where he just kept repeating “quick game?” It’ll be more of the same.
The Steelers’ offensive line is vulnerable. Stewart is no Myles Garrett, so don’t think that’s what we are saying. However, Garrett played incredibly well against the Steelers last week, where he straight-up beat his man five times, but only generated one pressure. Pittsburgh was able to neutralize the best pass rusher in the NFL, so the Bengals’ hopes are slim.
Stewart is adept at creating chaos and getting pressure. He may not be recording those tangible stats you see on Pro Football Reference, but he has shown that he can affect the game in his small sample size.
Ideally, Hendrickson is being held out all week so he can just rest and get back onto the field for the Bengals. Stewart is expected to have a big role. It’ll be even bigger if Hendrickson cannot go.
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