Joe Burrow, Bengals missing promising player ahead of 2025 NFL season

The Cincinnati Bengals are looking to have a bounce back season after missing the playoffs in 2024. Having Joe Burrow on their roster, it’s imperative for them to go all in as the team can’t waste the prime of one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. However, a key piece is nowhere to be seen during mandatory minicamps.

We’re talking about first-round pick, Shemar Stewart. The edge rusher who played in college for Texas A&M is one of the four first round rookies yet to sign their NFL contracts. Therefore, he’s not subject to fines as he is not under contract.

Stewart hasn’t signed due to a particular reason. The Bengals want to have the chance to void future guarantees, which is an unprecedented clause on first-round rookie contracts.

Stewart is not the only defensive star missing

While the Bengals have handled the offense in great fashion, with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Burrow all locked in for this season, the defense is a whole other story.

Edge Rusher Shemar Stewart of Texas A&M poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected seventeenth overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Stewart is not there, but he is not the only defensive player to be missing. HC Zac Taylor said the Bengals “just focus on the guys that were here.” However, the All-Pro defensive end, Trey Hendrickson, is also absent from team activities.

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Hendrickson has been with the Bengals for four years. He’s made the Pro-Bowl in all seasons and was selected as All-Pro in 2024. Since arriving, he has played 65 games and racked up an impressive 57 sacks, 112 QB Hits, 11 forced fumbles, and 12 passes defended. Hendrickson is looking for a big contract extension but negotiations have stalled. The defensive side of the Bengals is missing two key players due to contract disputes.

The Bengals can’t keep doing this

Last year, despite Joe Burrow having MVP-esque numbers, the Bengals missed the playoffs altogether. The reason was that, even if their offense ranked 9th in total yardage and first in passing, it wasn’t enough. The Bengals averaged 27.8 points per game, which was the 6th best in the NFL.

The only – and massive – problem was their defense. The defense was ranked 25th in total yardage, and 26th in points allowed. This forced the Bengals to be in shootouts week in and week out, and that’s a way to lose lots of those games. All this to say, the Bengals desperately need help on defense and having their two top rushers out of their facilities is bad, bad news.