He's In! Bengals Ink Shemar Stewart, Ending Holdout

• First-round pick Shemar Stewart ends his holdout, signing with the Bengals.
• The deal is a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million rookie contract.
• The brief holdout was over contract language concerning off-field conduct, not salary.
• Stewart missed all offseason workouts and must catch up quickly in training camp.
• The signing provides a boost to the Bengals amidst other team injuries.

The long wait is over, Who Dey Nation. After a brief but tense three-day holdout, first-round pick Shemar Stewart has officially signed his rookie contract and is heading to training camp. The Bengals locked up their prized defensive end with a fully guaranteed four-year deal, bringing a wave of relief to a team currently navigating a minefield of injuries and another key contract dispute.

I guess if he did something that really deserved punishment that he would want the whole contract guaranteed, and we would want to say, 'Well, it isn't guaranteed if you did something to that level.'

The Deal is Done: Stewart Signs on the Dotted Line

The stalemate is over. Shemar Stewart and the Bengals agreed to terms on a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million contract, which includes a hefty $10.4 million signing bonus. The holdout wasn't about the money, but rather the fine print concerning off-field conduct and voiding guarantees. Team president Mike Brown shed light on the compromise, explaining the team's desire to retain leverage for serious missteps. With the ink dry, the real work begins. Defensive coordinator Al Golden stressed the urgency of getting the 17th overall pick on the field, as Stewart missed all offseason workouts and needs to catch up fast to be ready for a starting role in the season opener.

One In, Several Out: Injury Bug Bites Early

While Stewart's arrival is a massive boost, the training camp medical tent is getting crowded. The team is still without star defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who remains on the reserve/did-not-report list amid his own contract dispute. His absence creates a significant hole on the opposite side of the line. Adding to the concerns, running back Zack Moss (neck), center Seth McLaughlin (undisclosed), and tight end Erick All Jr. (knee) are all sidelined. Key defenders B.J. Hill (foot) and Dax Hill (knee) are also being limited for precautionary reasons. These mounting issues put a serious strain on the team's depth and chemistry as they prepare for the 2025 season.

Who Dey Nation Reacts

The news of Stewart's signing sent waves of excitement across social media and Bengals media circles. Fans on Twitter and YouTube celebrated the end of the holdout, eagerly anticipating Stewart's impact on a defensive line that desperately needs his presence, especially with Hendrickson's status uncertain. Local commentators like Craig Sandlin and Mike Hart immediately began breaking down what the powerful Texas A&M product brings to Al Golden's defense, hailing the signing as one of the most critical moves of the Bengals' offseason.

With Stewart finally in the building, the focus shifts to accelerating his development and integrating him into the defense. However, the shadows of Hendrickson's holdout and a growing list of injuries loom large. The next few weeks are critical for Cincinnati to solve these personnel puzzles and get their key playmakers on the field, ensuring this promising offseason translates into a dominant regular season.