Shemar Stewart “wasn’t ready to be out there” last season but is now poised for a big year, per Bengals DL coach

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 28: Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart (97) lines up for a play during the second half of the game against the Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals on December 28, 2025, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images There’s no running from the fact that Shemar Stewart’s rookie season was a disappointment, even considering the fact that he was viewed as a project coming out of Texas A&M. In addition to notching only one sack and 13 pressures, the edge rusher finished dead last at his position according to Pro Football Focus.

Plus, he only played in eight games on account of a knee injury that found him on injured reserve in the middle of the season. Recently, Stewart’s position coach, David Montgomery, made the case on the Bengals Booth podcast (around the 24-minute mark) that last year’s first round pick will look a lot different with more time under his belt. “Shemar missed six months of football,” Montgomery began.

“He was injured. He missed most of the season. I would say there were times he wasn’t ready to be out there as a guy that just missed so much football.

” Montgomery then shifted to the future, saying, “I think with some development and a full offseason…he’s healthy, he’s doing a great job in his offseason training right now, I look for him to have a big year, and I’m excited about his future. ” In Montgomery’s defense, the argument is pretty solid; with more time, someone with Stewart’s tremendous athletic profile can grow tremendously. The question is if it’ll be enough for him to be the kind of impact player that the Bengals need on defense right now.