The Cincinnati Bengals entered the second half of their Week 8 matchup against the New York Jets holding a 24-13 lead. As they aim for their fourth win of the season—and second with Joe Flacco under center—they will be without a key defensive player.
Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson is out for the game due to a hip injury, according to a team announcement. Hendrickson also missed Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers for the same reason. While Cincinnati’s defense has struggled during much of the past three seasons, Hendrickson has consistently been a bright spot.
Without their top edge rusher, the Bengals’ defense faces a tough challenge: stopping the winless Jets to improve their record to .500. Hendrickson’s absence is especially impactful as he’s been a central figure throughout Bengals training camp contract drama. He ultimately agreed to a one-year deal but could be on his way out of Cincinnati after this season.
Despite that uncertainty, Hendrickson remains a key player for the Bengals as they harbor newfound hope with Flacco at quarterback. The defense was dominant in the first half, notably stopping a fourth-down attempt on the Jets’ opening drive and forcing a punt on their second possession. Although they allowed 13 points in the second quarter, Cincinnati maintained the lead going into halftime.
In the five drives Hendrickson participated in during the game, he recorded one tackle. The Bengals will need strong defensive performances moving forward, especially as they look to finish the game against the Jets, who are struggling to find any wins this season.
If Cincinnati secures the victory on Sunday, they will improve to 4-4, putting them in a position to contend for the AFC North title. Meanwhile, the Steelers hold a 4-2 record as they prepare for a challenging Sunday night matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
For the Bengals to make noise in the latter part of the season—and potentially get young quarterback Joe Burrow into impactful games—the defense must step up, beginning with Hendrickson. The defensive end is playing not only for team success but also for his future contract prospects.
As the Jets and Bengals head into the fourth quarter with Cincinnati leading by 15 points, all eyes will be on how much of an impact Hendrickson’s absence will have on the final result.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/bengals-trey-hendrickson-ruled-out-vs-jets-with-hip-injury
