The Cincinnati Bengals' defense has been one of the worst units in the NFL this season, and that's not for a lack of effort from the front office to fix it.
Trey Hendrickson is back, and Shemar Stewart was a first-round pick to bolster the defense. But Hendrickson has been out the last few weeks with a hip injury, and now, the Bengals are losing their other top pass rusher to injury.
According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Bengals are making the brutal decision to place first-round rookie Shemar Stewart on injured reserve due to a knee injury.
Bengals lose Shemar Stewart to injured reserve
"Bengals Shemar Stewart is going on injured reserve because of a knee injury, per sources," Pelissero reports.
This knee injury is not the only issue he's dealt with this season. Stewart has been dealing with a lingering ankle injury he sustained in Week 2, and now, a knee injury has Stewart banged up once again.
He last played in the Bengals' Week 9 game against the Chicago Bears, where he logged three tackles and one quarterback hit.
In his five games played this season, Stewart has totaled six combined tackles, one quarterback hit, and 177 snaps played on defense.
It's been a frustrating season for the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, as he hasn't done much for Cincinnati to begin his NFL career.
More: NFL writer highlights three brutal stats that show how bad the Bengals' defense is in 2025
The Bengals' defense has allowed 300 points this season, the most in the NFL. Their 33.3 points per game is a brutal mark, which has made the offense led by Joe Flacco unable to keep the season alive.
Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers is the Bengals' best chance at keeping their playoff hopes alive, as a loss would have Cincinnati at 3-7, and likely significantly behind the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.
For this Steelers Week 11 matchup, the Bengals will be playing without their top two pass rushers. Hendrickson is out with a hip injury, and Stewart is on injured reserve with a knee issue.
Stewart has to miss at least four weeks, and the earliest he could return is Week 15, when the Bengals host the Ravens in what could be a huge division matchup for both teams near the end of the season.
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