Texas A&M coach Mike Elko shot down rumors that defensive end Shemar Stewart, a former Aggie whom the Cincinnati Bengals selected with the No. 17 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, may return to the university instead of making his professional debut this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no intentions of Shemar to play for the Aggies this year,\u201d Elko told ESPN\u2019s Shae Cornette on Thursday. \u201cBut Shemar has been around. He\u2019s very comfortable in our program, really likes what we do training-wise. He\u2019s been training, getting ready for his season this year with the Bengals. We wish him the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShemar Stewart is back with us, working out, getting ready to go to Cincinnati to play in the NFL. It\u2019s amazing what can get created on social media these days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko confirms that Bengals 1st round pick Shemar Stewart is just working out with his old\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/HZ9696d6yu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) July 17, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Stewart and the Bengals are embroiled in a contract dispute over language the team included in his rookie deal. At the center of the conflict is a clause that allows the Bengals to void guaranteed money if Stewart defaults on the contract by engaging in conduct detrimental to the team \u2014 such as injuring himself during a prohibited activity or committing a criminal offense.<\/p>\n As negotiations have dragged on, Stewart has argued that the updated clause is unfair, noting the team used different language in similar situations for previous first-round picks.<\/p>\n \u201cTrying to implement something new, to me, is unfair,\u201d Stewart said in June<\/a>. \u201cAnd I feel like I\u2019ve been nothing but fair. I\u2019m not asking for nothing crazy. I could understand if I was asking for more on my signing bonus, which I\u2019m not. (The Bengals) trying to do all of this is crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n Stewart sat out the team\u2019s mandatory minicamp, and with Bengals rookies scheduled to report for training camp Saturday, the matter has fans concerned<\/a>. Among Cincinnati rookies, only Stewart and second-round pick Demetrius Knight Jr. remained unsigned.<\/p>\n The impasse fueled recent speculation that Stewart might opt for a return to Texas A&M for his final year of college eligibility, but Elko\u2019s comments Thursday made it clear that the Aggies don\u2019t expect that to happen.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Bengals still haven\u2019t signed a long-term extension with All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who would likely play opposite Stewart if all goes according to Cincinnati\u2019s plans. Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks (17.5) last season and is in the final year of a contract he signed in 2023, but the Bengals have resisted his desire for a bigger, long-term extension.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to apologize for the rates of the defensive ends being paid in the National Football League,\u201d Hendrickson said in May<\/a>.<\/p>\n Following the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 decision to make edge rusher T.J. Watt the highest-paid non-quarterback<\/a> in the NFL on Thursday with a 3-year, $123 million extension, that rate could keep rising.<\/p>\n What that means for Stewart and Hendrickson is unclear. Practice starts Wednesday.<\/p>\n (Photo: Stacy Revere \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n