Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Stewart is holding out from team activities due to a contract dispute with the Cincinnati Bengals. The issue centers around a phrase in his contract that would allow him to opt-out of the current year and trigger defaults for all remaining years.
Stewart, who was drafted 17th overall in 2022, has been without on-field activities since OTAs last month while waiting for a resolution to the dispute. His value is estimated at $18.9 million with a $10.4 million signing bonus.
The Bengals are also dealing with another key player, defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who is seeking a new contract after leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season. While Stewart’s departure from practice does not necessarily make this situation more critical than it already is, the team will be closely watching as they reconvene for training camp in late July.
Stewart has stated that he believes the issue can be resolved “100 percent right” and that he just needs to “negotiate.” The Bengals’ organization remains silent on the matter, but fans are anxiously waiting to see how this contract dispute is resolved.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25205036-shemar-stewart-reportedly-leaves-bengals-mandatory-minicamp-amid-contract-dispute