Rookie Shemar Stewart Apologizes After Accidental Collision With Joe Burrow Sparks Scuffle

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Shemar Stewart in the first round to bolster their weak defense.

Rookie Shemar Stewart Apologizes After Accidental Collision With Joe Burrow Sparks Scuffle

Shemar Stewart, Joe Burrow (Images via SI/Getty Images)

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The Cincinnati Bengals roster is awfully protective of their signal-caller caller Joe Burrow. An unintentional and accidental bump from rookie DE Shemar Stewart on Burrow during training set off a scuffle on Wednesday.

The incident occurred when Stewart knocked Burrow onto the ground when he failed to pull up after coming up free on the middle during an 11-on-11 drill. Lucas Patrick lit into the rookie just two first-team snaps later, thereby starting a commotion.

Center Ted Karras later responded that Stewart’s slip warranted a response. They wouldn’t want to damage all hopes, especially with Burrow amid a league-leading performance last season and his recent form.

It doesn’t matter. The result is the result. C’mon, man. That’s our hopes and dreams right there. But it happened, we had to respond.

Ted Karras said of the fight

The rookie, who underwent a tiresome contract drama, has now revealed that he reached out and apologized to the quarterback after the incident. He claimed that Burrow was fine with it as long as he showcased similar performances on game days as well.

I said ‘You know, Joe, it was an accident. You know I never meant to do that. He said ‘It’s cool as long as you do it on Sundays, too. He kept it cool and short and sweet, and we just forgot about it.

Shemar Stewart said (H/T: SI.com)

Stewart also expressed his thoughts about what he thought about the fight. He claimed that the fight was a sign of passion in the camp. The DE, though, added that keeping in aggression isn’t an ideal thing to do, and it may cause problems for them in the long run.

Shemar Stewart being more cautious with Burrow on Friday as he prepares for bigger role in Cincinnati

Stewart admitted he felt a bit hesitant on his first few reps Friday, cautious about getting too close to Joe Burrow again.

Shemar Stewart
Shemar Stewart (Image via Sports Al Dente)

I did a little matrix.

But he quickly shook it off and delivered the kind of sack coaches like to see in practice, closing in on Burrow without making contact, which led them to blow the play dead.

The Cincinnati Bengals are preparing to unleash the defensive end with the first-team defense, which signals the franchise’s confidence in their first-round pick. Stewart has been one of the most consistent performers in training camp, flashing his strength and relentlessness against Bengals’ offensive line.

On multiple occasions this week, he’s managed to collapse the pocket and force Joe Burrow off his spot without making contact, as practice rules dictate.

Head coach Zac Taylor acknowledged both Stewart’s rapid adjustment and the work behind the scenes that has fueled his strong start.

To say I’m surprised, it’s hard to measure how quickly he’s going to get acclimated. I think he and Jerry [defensive line coach Marion Hobby] have done a great job working through it and making sure he can make an immediate impact.

Zac Taylor said

When asked what stands out most about the rookie, Taylor pointed to Stewart’s defining traits. “The power. The disruptiveness. You can see the impact that he has,” he said.

For a Bengals defense that is looking to reload up front, Stewart’s presence could prove pivotal.

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