CINCINNATI (WXIX) – Back in Week 4, Myles Murphy had a bad game as the Bengals lost to the Broncos. He had zero impact on the game as a pass rusher, there were moments where he was out of position and his technique on one play led to him colliding with Trey Hendrickson. <\/p>\n
The following week, with the Bengals facing the Lions, Murphy played a season-low 13 snaps. That became a turning point for the third-year defensive end, who has gone on to become one of the biggest bright spots on the Bengals\u2019 defense. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe realized then and there, I\u2019ve got to (poop) or get off the pot,\u201d defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery said. \u201cAfter that, he really started just growing and really buying into the physicality and playing with hands and great fundamentals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Montgomery said that during the second half of the season, Murphy has shown that he\u2019s a physical early down run player who\u2019s starting to tap more into his physical traits as a pass rusher and make more and more of an impact on third downs. Montgomery said that Murphy has made \u201chuge strides,\u201d and Murphy is in a good position to be a starter on the 2026 Bengals. <\/p>\n
Several of the other young pieces on the Bengals\u2019 defensive line still look like they\u2019re in that stage that Murphy was in back in Week 4 and Week 5. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can\u2019t play to the standard of the room, I don\u2019t care who you are, how much you\u2019re getting paid or what round you were (drafted),\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cIf you can\u2019t play to the standard, we\u2019re going to find somebody to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murphy\u2019s strong second half of that year shows that a leap is possible, and he\u2019s a reminder that you shouldn\u2019t give up on a young defensive lineman with standout traits. Murphy really had to work to get to the level that he\u2019s at now. <\/p>\n
\u201cI got here, and all I heard in the public was that he\u2019s a bust, he\u2019s a bust, he\u2019s a bust,\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cI\u2019d never worked with him for a day. My goal was to make him more physical at the point of attack and use his God-gifted traits.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murphy is getting there. The next step for the Bengals\u2019 defensive line is finding more pass rush help around him, particularly with Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai hitting free agency.<\/p>\n
The only notable defensive ends under contract for 2026 are Murphy, Shemar Stewart and Cedric Johnson. BJ Hill, TJ Slaton, Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson are all under contract to return in 2026. But Hill, Slaton and Jenkins all ranked in the bottom-30 (out of 102) in the entire NFL for pressure rates from a qualified defensive lineman in 2025, and Jackson only had three pressures all season. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the guys have stepped up, they\u2019ve grown,\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cThey\u2019re still not where I want them to be as a group. They\u2019ve made drastic improvement from where they were when I got here. There\u2019s progress being built. They\u2019re playing more confidently. They believe in what we\u2019re doing. They\u2019re being more physical at the point of attack. They\u2019re being active as rushers. It\u2019s a start.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the defensive line is a unit that desperately needs and will certainly get some outside help entering 2026 (I\u2019d invest in this position group more than any other in free agency and the draft this spring), the Bengals also need their young pieces to take several steps. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s turned into a lost rookie year for Stewart, who skipped OTAs and some of training camp due to a contract dispute and has missed nine games this season due to ankle and knee injuries. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe needs a big offseason,\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cHe needs a tremendous strength and conditioning (program) in the offseason. It\u2019s got to be something he wants, not that I want. He has the size and strength to do whatever he wants. It\u2019s just the willingness to want to learn and grow and be locked into the things we\u2019re asking him to do. He can do whatever he wants. He can move all around. But it\u2019s got to be something that he\u2019s passionate about. If it\u2019s not, then he\u2019ll have to beat out other people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recently, Al Golden was discussing the major leap that cornerback DJ Turner made this season. Golden touted Turner\u2019s consistency, attention to detail and desire to be process oriented. <\/p>\n
Later, when asked about Stewart, Golden said that everything he said about Turner is what Stewart needs. <\/p>\n
\u201c(Stewart) doesn\u2019t know it to the extent he needs to yet,\u201d Golden said. \u201cHe shows great promise in there. He has the power to bull rush. He has the length to win with his hands. If the slide goes away, he\u2019s a tough out for a guard. That\u2019s going to help us moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
The injuries are a part of the story of Stewart\u2019s season. He looked banged up as he was playing in October \u2014 consecutive games where he was benched mid-game following missed tackles, quarterback scrambles allowed and plays that he didn\u2019t finish. <\/p>\n
\u201cI saw a guy that was fighting through injury,\u201d Zac Taylor said. \u201cHe has just had a tough go of it this season. And it\u2019s because things that have happened to him off the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stewart has the tools to be any style of defensive end. He could be anything from a speed rusher around the end to a disruptive pass rushing presence at defensive tackle. But obviously, the level of play in 2025 hasn\u2019t been good enough. <\/p>\n
Montgomery shared what his message is going to be to Stewart entering the offseason.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake the offseason and take the things that we\u2019ve worked on and when you leave here, come back the same way you left,\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cThat way when you come back, we don\u2019t have to start all the way over. From a fundamental standpoint, let\u2019s work on your pad level, your hand placement, playing with a better base, playing with better knee bend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just like Murphy emerged out of the muck of the \u201cbust\u201d conversation, Stewart has a path to being a long-term contributor for the Bengals. <\/p>\n
Murphy worked his way into the piece he is now, showing the (difficult) path for a player like Stewart to get there. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was really excited early in the year about Shemar before he got injured about how he was playing, setting edges and running to the ball,\u201d Golden said. \u201cHe needs to just go, get healthy and find the joy in playing.\u201d<\/p>\n
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