​The Cincinnati Bengals have a major injury concern with edge rusher Shemar Stewart just one practice into training camp.While the team was taking part in an 11-on-11 session, Stewart suffered an apparent left knee. Trainers worked on it briefly, but Stewart wasn’t able to put weight on it after and was eventually carted off the field and didn’t return.“During first 11 on 11 session, Shemar Stewart, the Bengals 2025 first-round pick, goes down and hobbles off. Was favoring his left knee,” The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. revealed. “He went down behind the drill, worked on and eventually tried to put pressure on it and couldn’t. He was just carted off.”MORE: Joe Burrow faces tough question about availability ahead of 2026 NFL seasonThe extent of Stewart’s injury isn’t known, but based on video of the play, it doesn’t look good, as the 2025 first-round pick’s leg bent awkwardly on the play.It looks like a hyperextension and we can only hope Stewart’s injury doesn’t turn out to be the worst-case scenario.Impact of Shemar Stewart’s injuryCincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart (97) sits between drives in the first quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.After a quiet rookie season that saw him play in just five games and tally zero sacks in 2025, the Bengals were hoping Stewart would take a second-year leap.Stewart’s contribution is especially important because the Bengals desperately need to improve their defense if they want to make some noise in 2026.Cincinnati’s pass-rush was especially bad last season, with the Bengals tallying the seventh-fewest sacks in the NFL.MORE: Bengals’ Orlando Brown Jr. makes bold statement, now must deliver on itIf Stewart is out for an extended period of time, it would amount to a big blow to a defense that already has plenty of question marks.The Bengals parted ways with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson during the offseason and they need someone to step up and fill his shoes.Cincinnati added Boye Mafe in free agency and Cashius Howell in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Myles Murphy, who led the team with 5.5 sacks in 2025, is back for another season.All three of those players will need to step up even more if Stewart misses any amount of time.MORE: Possible Vita Vea trade could be delayed after latest news