The Cincinnati Bengals have a long history of mismanaging their own roster, and what has happened with Trey Hendrickson is just the latest example. He’s been dealing with what was once simply called a sports hernia, and after missing five weeks, he’ll now miss six more—the rest of the season—to undergo a surgery he should have had more than a month ago.
Instead of a reasonable four-to-five-week stint on IR with a possible late-season return, he’s done.
Will that be it, then?
Hendrickson is in a contract year—again—and while his current deal positions him as a likely franchise-tag candidate in 2026, it’s fair to wonder whether the Bengals will be willing to pay a 32-year-old edge rusher who played only seven games the previous season.
Given Cincinnati’s near-allergic reaction to signing anyone past age 30, I’m not holding my breath. Especially not with the way Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy have played over the last several weeks as they finally receive real snaps for the first time in their young-ish careers. Is that the right move? No, probably not.
And we can’t forget Shemar Stewart—even if we want to. The Bengals aren’t going to move on from a first-round pick after half a season of nothing. They’d need a whole lot more nothing before they admit defeat there.
So it’s very possible we’ve seen the last of Hendrickson in stripes.
If that’s the case, it’s a shame the Bengals never hoisted a Lombardi during his tenure. It’s also a shame they squandered the best years of his career by letting every other defensive star walk and drafting like absolute buffoons.
If this is the end, Hendrickson will be remembered as one of the best pass rushers in franchise history—and arguably the best free-agent signing the Bengals have ever made.
Thank you for everything, Trey.
Sunday’s loss was about as ironic as a loss can be. Joe Burrow returned to save the Bengals…and it was his back-to-back interceptions that buried them. This time it wasn’t the defense—though they couldn’t get off the field late. The defeat was the second-to-last nail hammered into the coffin of Cincinnati’s playoff chances.
But let’s be honest: this loss didn’t kill them.
Their collapse against the Jets and Bears did.
Their decision to spend a first-round pick on Shemar Stewart did.
Another Burrow injury did.
Their embarrassing no-show against the Steelers did.
It wasn’t the close loss to a very good Bills team in the snow. I can forgive that one. They shouldn’t have been in a position where winning out was even part of the discussion.
Such is life in Cincinnati.
The Bengals cutting Jermaine Burton was their best decision of the season. The fact that an obviously talented third-round receiver couldn’t crack the game-day roster when either Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins was out says plenty. I’m not sure what the issues were—plural, undoubtedly—but I hope he figures them out.
He’s a young man who clearly needs guidance, and I’d hate to see real talent go to waste.
It likely won’t be in Cincinnati, but hopefully he gets one more shot. After that, the league will move on.
Random Week 14 Thoughts
- Not only did the Bengals lose a must-win game, but the Steelers won. Now Cincinnati must win out and hope Pittsburgh loses three of its final four (vs Dolphins, Lions, Browns, Ravens), while the Ravens lose to the Bengals in Week 15 and drop one more (vs Patriots, Packers, Steelers). The Steelers and Ravens control their own destinies. The Bengals need…well, everything.
- Tee Higgins being back in concussion protocol wasn’t surprising. His head bounced off the turf more than once. That he finished the game was surprising.
- Chase Brown couldn’t get anything going: 12 carries, 1.2 yards per attempt. Samaje Perine was more effective, but the run game barely existed in Buffalo’s snow.
- The tight-end nightmare continues. Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox combined for 134 yards and a touchdown. Same story, new week.
- It’s almost unbelievable that Burrow is even playing, let alone playing at this level. Someday he’ll earn his MVP trophy instead of another Comeback Player of the Year.
- Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai continue to impress with all the extra snaps.
- Tremendous pass-blocking performance. Burrow was hit once.
- Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. must improve in coverage this offseason. Logan Wilson shares the lead in interceptions from the position since he was drafted in 2020. Now he’s gone, and if Carter and Knight are the future, they must improve fast.
Whatsoever I’ve feared has come to life
And whatsoever I’ve fought off became my life
Just when every day seem to greet me with a smile
Sunspots have faded, now I’m doing time
Now I’m doing time
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