Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart injured, fight breaks out on Day 1 of camp
· Yahoo Sports
Jul. 29—Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor said his message to the team before the first practice of training camp was about getting the work in while also "trying to protect your teammates."
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By the time the Bengals got into team drills Wednesday, July 29, that message was already being put to the test.
Just a few minutes after defensive end Shemar Stewart needed to be carted off after hyperextending his left knee on a routine team rep against Cody Ford, a scuffle broke out.
A closed fist swung at Ja'Marr Chase after a first-team 11-on-11 rep, and Chase ended up ripping off the helmet of DJ Turner and forcefully rolling it on the ground about 20 yards away. As players from both offense and defense came together in a scrum, Chase came out of it jawing at Jalen Davis.
Turner said it was "just competing" and "nothing else to it." Davis liked seeing that kind of chippy behavior on Day 1 and hopes the intensity keeps up throughout camp.
"I always feel like the energy got to be like that. It got to be like that on both sides of the field. I hope it's a fight every day...to get the energy going. Like I said, we just competing, and that's it."
Tee Higgins got right in the middle of the scrum, trying to play peacekeeper, and said he was just trying to protect his "guy." He didn't mind the extra edge on display but didn't want to let it get out of hand.
Davis was on the sideline for the next series, while Ja'Sir Taylor jumped in with the first-team defense, but Joe Burrow went right toward Turner on the following two passes, one to Chase and one to Higgins. Burrow smiled when asked about whether it was intentional to target Turner after the scuffle and said "you'll never know."
Chase was still talking to Davis as players moved onto the next drill, but they eventually shook hands. Davis said the players still love one another, despite any bad blood that might appear on the field. The defense especially wants to set a different tone this year, as that side of the ball seeks to show the past struggles are in the past.
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Laurel Pfahler breaks down the Cincinnati Bengals position groups heading into the 2026 season in this 8-part series.
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"We just want to come out and just have a different mentality, and that's what came out," Davis said.
There's a fine line between competitiveness and putting teammates at risk of injury, though. Players didn't feel like anything went overboard Wednesday, and Stewart's injury was just a routine play.
Davis, Turner and Dexter Lawrence all said they didn't even realize Stewart had gone down, but were disappointed to hear about it later. He was carted off right before the altercation, and there was no update after practice.
Stewart missed nine games in his rookie season due to a pair of injuries last year, and he was hopeful to be able to make a bigger impact in Year 2.
The Bengals are anxious to get back on track this season, and that takes everyone being invested, Turner said. That's why he, Dax Hill and Chase Brown are still showing up on time and practicing, despite not having long-term deals in place. All three players are in the final season of their contract, including Hill playing on a fifth-year option.
Everyone was at practice on Day 1.
"In my situation I am right now, I'm just locked into my craft right now," Turner said. "Honestly, we have to win this year, and so me being out there is really important to the team."
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward became the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history for the second time in his career on Tuesday when he signed a two-year, $62.2 million extension, including $52.3 million in guaranteed money. That could help drive up the price for everyone else, but Turner said it was deserved for Ward.
"That was big," Turner said. "Like I said, Denzel was the top corner, though, so that's not surprising at all.
Hill said it wasn't a question whether he would show up or not. He also has an important role to play in the Cincinnati secondary this year.
Despite speculation the Bengals might move Hill back inside after drafting Tacario Davis in the third round, they are keeping Hill outside, as he had hoped would be the case.
"I mean it's kind of just reassuring," Hill said after expressing the importance of staying in one position this spring after moving from safety to nickel to outside in his first four seasons. "I mean, I know I can play the position, so just hearing that, you know, just kind of reassures things."