Around the time the Cincinnati Bengals were busy moving breakout rookie Cashius Howell to injured reserve after surgery, head coach Zac Taylor was giving Shemar Stewart his props. 

Stewart, a healthy scratch just two weeks ago, has been buried on the depth chart while he tries to regain lost ground due to a contract spat and injuries dating back to before his rookie season. 

Now is his time, in the mind of Taylor. 

"We're well built in that room. It'll provide more opportunities for guys like Shemar," Taylor said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. "We knew a day like this would come. It's always unfortunate when a guy gets hurt. That's why you have the depth. Shemar has been doing everything he can to control his spot. We trust him to go in there and make some plays for us."

With Howell down and Cedric Johnson also battling an injury, the Bengals have Boye Mafe and Myles Murphy as the big contributors on the edge. 

Stewart, so far, has appeared in just four games and played 23 snaps. The 17th pick in 2025 saw a refocused push into his second year go off the rails early in training camp due to injury. 

For better or worse, injuries have paved the way for Stewart to start getting important reps. But based on how things go over the next week or so, the injury bug at the EDGE spot could mean the Bengals end up buyers at the NFL trade deadline, too.