Bengals DE Shemar Stewart didn't play vs Steelers. Zac Taylor explains

One week after the Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart made his 2026 season debut and recorded his first sack of the year, he did not play a single snap during the team's Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A day after the defeat, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor provided an explanation for Stewart's absence on the field.

Stewart had been carted off the practice field after hyperextending his knee in July during the first day of training camp. Taylor assured reporters that the team had a strong defensive end group and praised Stewart's effort and attitude, stating that there would be moments to get him more involved in the coming weeks. Despite being only nine practices into his training, Taylor expressed satisfaction with Stewart's performance thus far.

The Bengals' first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft had played in eight games during his rookie season for Cincinnati before suffering a knee injury in November 2025. Stewart was subsequently placed on the Reserve/Injured list.