"Bengals are run terribly": NFL fans react to rookie Shemar Stewart skipping mandatory minicamp over contract dispute

All is not well in Cincinatti. Despite picking Shemar Stewart in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Bengals are yet to sign the rookie defensive end to a contract. It's said that the franchise is pushing for a clause that wasn't present last year. As a result, Stewart will not be able to attend the mandatory minicamp.

Hence, the Bengals will be forced to practice with two of their best pas rushers. Trey Hendrickson will also skip practice this week due to his own contract disputes. This has left the Cincinatti fans fuming.

NFL insider Ari Meirov broke the new on X (formerly Twitter) by posting:

"#Bengals rookie DE Shemar Stewart will not practice during mandatory minicamp as the team and his reps have yet to finalize contract language, per @KelseyLConway. That means the Bengals will be without both Trey Hendrickson (not in attendance at all) and Shemar Stewart (watching only)."

This news, as expected, didn't go down well with Bengals fans as they displayed their displeasure on social media, One tweeted:

"The Bengals are run terribly."

"I don’t know if it’s cause Chase and Tee Higgins being paid and/or per usual the Bengals being cheap but they better fix this for their defense be cooked even worse than last year. What it’s looking like especially if they both not on the field. Quit playing hardball and pay them," tweeted one fan.

"This is going to land in the all time bad category when it’s all said and done," wrote another user.

"Defense was absolutely cooked last year and they threw all their money at 3 offensive guys," said one fan.

"So does Shemar get fined or no since he’s not part of the team technically?" asked another.

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Baltimore Ravens CB takes a shot at Shemar Stewart's contract situation with the Bengals

Amist all that's going on with Shemar Stewart and the Bengals, Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey found his way to the headlines. Baltimore is said to sign their first-round draft pick Malakai Starks to a four-year rookie deal. Adressing that, Humphrey tweeted:

"Contract wasn't signed but still practicing."

Many thought that it was a shot at Stewart himself, but the Ravens star clarified that he was calling out the agents and not the player.

"I actually was taking a shot at agents. Didn't mean no disrespect to the Bengals player yall talking about lol,"

It'll be interesting to see if Stewart and the Bengals come to an agreement before the upcoming NFL season starts.