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Bengals’ prime decide Shemar Stewart watches camp, sans deal

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  • Ben ChildCould 9, 2025, 08:36 PM ET

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      Ben Child covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the corporate in July 2019. Previous to ESPN, he labored for varied newspapers in Texas, most lately at The Dallas Morning Information the place he coated faculty sports activities. He supplies every day protection of the Bengals for ESPN.com, whereas making appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL reveals and ESPN Radio applications. A local of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the College of North Texas with a bachelor’s diploma in journalism. He’s an adjunct journalism professor at Southern Methodist College and a member of the Asian American Journalists Affiliation (AAJA).

CINCINNATI — Two of of the Cincinnati Bengals‘ prime draft picks had been observers throughout the group’s rookie minicamp on Friday.

Defensive finish Shemar Stewart, a first-round decide, and linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr., a second-round decide, stood in uniform and watched drills inside Paycor Stadium. The pair are the lone members of Cincinnati’s draft class who’ve but to signal their rookie contracts.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor cited the delay for his or her lack of participation.

“They’re simply working by way of their contracts proper now,” Taylor stated after the hourlong exercise.

It’s not unusual for draft picks to not have their contracts, which have slotted salaries, unsigned at first of exercises because the group and participant hammer out among the particulars in every deal. Sometimes, decision in these conditions happens as different drafted gamers across the league finalize their respective offers, which give negotiating events a way of the working parameters for the ultimate particulars.

However that left Stewart and Knight on the sideline on Friday. Stewart advised reporters that he “determined to not signal these papers” and most well-liked to be an energetic participant as an alternative of a passive one.

“I’d like to be a part of the group,” Stewart stated. “I hate being on the sideline simply taking a look at all people else do work.”

Cincinnati will resume offseason exercises on Monday because it continues Section 2 of voluntary exercises.

The Bengals are leaning on Stewart, the seventeenth total decide, and Knight, the forty ninth total decide, to be speedy contributors. Stewart can increase a move rush led by defensive finish Trey Hendrickson, who’s searching for a contract extension on a deal that expires after the 2025 season. Taylor didn’t have an replace on that scenario on Friday.

Knight might doubtlessly slot in because the group’s beginning linebacker reverse Logan Wilson. Present linebacker Germaine Pratt has requested a commerce but additionally does not seem like within the group’s long-term plans.

Cincinnati drafted Knight and Clemson’s Barrett Carter on this yr’s draft.



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