Image Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

‘Just Be Smarter’ – Ted Karras Blasts Rookie After Hit on Joe Burrow Ignites Fight in Bengals Camp

Bengals Center Disappointed, Calls for Smarter Practice Play

Image Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

A fight broke out between Cincinnati Bengals teammates during a practice session on Wednesday. This happened during an offensive and defensive drill involving star player Joe Burrow.

Rookie Shemar Stewart knocked down Burrow in a sequence of play, prompting other teammates to get involved in the scuffle. The QB1 took his time passing the ball to Ja’Marr Chase, and that is when Stewart saw the clear opportunity to make the sack.

He was a little late in the tackle, as the ball had already been released by then. The Defensive end hit Burrow’s midsection, and fell on the ground. Lucas Patrick from the O-Line was not happy with the hard tackle and initiated a fight with the rookie.

Oh Boy: Bengals rookie DE Shemar Stewart HIT Joe Burrow at practice today, causing an all-out brawl.pic.twitter.com/FoXc0kzBW9
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 13, 2025

Shemar Stewart didn’t back down and took a swing at Patrick’s helmet. This led to a brief scuffle, where other teammates quickly intervened to separate the aggressive pair. Observers suggest that Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive line was constantly getting pushed around by the defensive line.

This was not a case for just a couple of plays, but throughout the practice. Stewart’s hit on Burrow also brought up the bottled frustration from the O-Line’s constant failures. On the other hand, Cincinnati’s defense looks sharper, especially under the new defensive coordinator Al Golden.

Karras Calls Out Stewart’s Aggressive Hit

Cincinnati Bengals’ center Ted Karras publicly called out Shemar Stewart for being aggressive during the training. He revealed his disappointment on the hit on Joe Burrow and suggested that the response to it was fitting.

Ted Karras said, “I think we got a little loose from an O-line perspective today. Some things transpired that warranted a response, and Lucas delivered that. I thought we handled it well overall. It wasn’t like a shut down the practice type of scuffle. And probably about time we had one of those.”

On Stewart, he added, “Just be smarter. … Great player. But, come on, man. That’s all our hopes and dreams right there. And we got to be better, too. That’s on us.”