Cincinnati’s Karras tells Rookie Stewart to Exercise Caution After Colliding with Burrow

A recent practice session by the Cincinnati Bengals led to a minor scuffle between the offensive and defensive line. Rookie Shemar Stewart was seen bumping into quarterback Joe Burrow, which immediately stirred up the offense. Veteran center Ted Karras expressed his opinion on the incident after the practice session.

Ted Karras’ take on the scuffle was, “Just be smarter. Great player, but come on, man. That’s all our hopes and dreams right there. We [the offensive line] gotta be better, too. That’s on us.” Although he recognized Stewart’s potential, he emphasized the need for the rookie to control his aggression, especially around Burrow. Stewart joined the team on July 25 after finalizing his contract, having skipped earlier practice sessions while negotiating a better deal.

Karras further suggested that the offensive line also needed to self-reflect, implying that the fault may not lie solely with Stewart.

Fans reacted vociferously to the incident on social media. Some criticized Karras for his outspokenness, while others recognized the need for investment in a starting guard to avoid such incidents in the future.

The Bengals are scheduled to play against the Washington Commanders on Monday, August 18, in their upcoming preseason game.