Why Are Shemar Stewart and Demetrius Knight Sitting Out Bengals Rookie Minicamp?

Cincinnati Bengals fans are getting their first look at the team’s newest talent during rookie minicamp, but two top picks are noticeably not participating in on-field drills. First-rounder Shemar Stewart and second-round pick Demetrius Knight are both on the sidelines as the team kicks off its three-day minicamp.

So what’s going on? And why are these rookies not suiting up just yet?

Are Stewart and Knight Injured?

No, this isn’t about injuries. Both players are healthy and active — just not involved in live drills. The issue isn’t physical, it’s contractual.

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Both Stewart and Knight are still working through their rookie deals, and as a result, have decided not to sign the waiver that would allow them to practice without a contract. That waiver is known as a Rookie Participation Agreement (RPA) and is often signed by rookies during minicamp when their official contracts aren’t finalized yet.

Coach Zac Taylor confirmed the situation, saying, “They’re just working through their contracts right now.”

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What Did Shemar Stewart Say About Missing Practice?

Speaking with WCPO’s Caleb Noe, Shemar Stewart made it clear that he’s eager to get on the field. But until the paperwork is complete, he’s holding off — just to be safe.

“I just decided not to sign those [waiver] papers,” Stewart said. “I’m doing everything else. It’s just like on-the-field stuff I’m not doing.”

While he’s still attending meetings and participating in other off-field activities, Stewart admitted it’s tough being sidelined.

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“I would love to be a part of the team. I hate being on the sideline looking at everybody else do work,” he added.

He’s hopeful that a deal will be in place by Monday, which would allow him to begin the offseason program in full.

How Common Is This Situation?

It’s actually pretty normal. Most rookies do sign the RPA to protect themselves in case of injury, which lets them take part in practices before signing their full contracts. But it’s not required, and some players — especially high draft picks — choose to wait until everything is official.

There’s money on the line, and risking injury before locking in your guaranteed deal just isn’t something every player is comfortable doing.

In this case, Stewart and Knight are the only two Bengals picks who haven’t signed their four-year rookie contracts yet.

Should Bengals Fans Be Worried?

Not really. This kind of thing happens every year across the league, and both players are expected to join full workouts as soon as their deals are signed. It’s just a matter of time — and likely a few details being ironed out between their agents and the team.

The important thing is that both Stewart and Knight are present, engaged, and preparing mentally. They just aren’t physically going full speed until their contracts are in place.