CINCINNATI — Bengals first round pick Shemar Stewart didn't participate in on-field drills during the offseason program. He's the only healthy rookie that didn't participate in workouts.
Why?
His representatives didn't like the language used in the injury protection waiver the Bengals presented them with before rookie minicamp.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk read the Bengals' agreement and compared it to the one used by another team.
"Cincinnati’s agreement applies if the player 'sustains a disabling NFL football-related injury,'" Florio wrote. "At least one other team removes the phrase 'disabling,' which introduces ambiguity and (potentially) an avenue for the team lawyering their way out of the deal."
Stewart was on the field for the offseason program, but stood on the sideline watching. He left minicamp a day early. There is another difference in the Bengals' agreement:
"The Bengals’ agreement also doesn’t contain a clear commitment to give Stewart a contract commensurate with being the 17th overall pick in the draft.," Florio wrote. "The other team’s expressly says that the terms 'shall be commensurate' with the player’s slot."
The Bengals selected Stewart with the No. 17 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Both the Bengals and Stewart's representatives should want to make sure he's on the field for the start of training camp later this month.
Check out Florio's entire article here.
For more on the Bengals, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and watch the video below as part of our in-depth coverage of the team:
Make sure you bookmark BengalsTalk.com for the latest Bengals news, exclusive interviews, insight, film breakdowns and so much more!
You May Also Like:
Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow Won't Get to Face Childhood Idol After 2025 Season
Look: Bengals Star Trey Hendrickson Training in Cincinnati With Training Camp One Month Away
Watch: Trailer, Air Date Announced For Joe Burrow's Appearance in Netflix Quarterback Show
Cincinnati Bengals Rookie Jalen Rivers Earns Major Praise From Pro Bowler Orlando Brown Jr.
'We're Worried About Them' - Anonymous Bengals Players Offer More Insight on Team's Family Treatment
Look: Cincinnati Bengals First Round Pick Shemar Stewart Wears Uniform for First Time
Stat of the Jay: ROH Finalist Max Montoya Ranks Third in Team History in Impressive Category
Report: Cincinnati Bengals Releasing Veteran Defender Germaine Pratt
Cincinnati Bengals Should Bolster Roster By Signing Recently Released Veteran Jaire Alexander
Cincinnati Bengals' Top Defenders Near Bottom of NFL in Latest Rankings
Look: Former Bengals Star Adam 'Pacman' Jones Releases Statement After Latest Arrest
Look: Bengals 2020s Draft Haul Ranked Among Bottom-Half of NFL Teams
Watch: Cincinnati Bengals Star Ja'Marr Chase Makes One-Handed Catch During Practice
NFL's Vice President of Broadcast Planning Mike North Weighs in on Cincinnati Bengals Schedule
ESPN's Bill Barnwell Gives Bengals Dubious Offseason Superlative Surrounding Trey Hendrickson
Watch: Bengals Stars Tee Higgins, and B.J. Hill Hit Gun Range Together During Offseason
Look: Joe Burrow Stands Alone In Key Passing Categories Over Past Few Seasons
Stat of the Jay: Where Does Bengals' Short Travel Schedule This Year Rank Historically?
This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/bengals/ as Bengals First Round Pick Shemar Stewart Didn't Sign Injury Waiver for One Big Reason.