The Cincinnati Bengals will be without star defensive end Trey Hendrickson for their crucial Thursday Night Football matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a hip injury, dealing a major blow to their struggling defense.
Key Takeaways
- Trey Hendrickson (hip) ruled out vs Steelers
- Bengals defense ranks 30th, allows 27.2 PPG
- Rookie Shemar Stewart returns from ankle injury
- Bengals on 4-game losing streak at 2-4 record
Hendrickson Injury Details
The All-Pro defensive end suffered the hip injury during the second half of Cincinnati’s Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Initially reported as a back issue, the injury prevented him from practicing all week leading up to the Steelers game.
Despite being listed as questionable, the short turnaround for Thursday’s contest made his participation unlikely.
Impact on Bengals Defense
Hendrickson’s absence creates a significant void in Cincinnati’s pass rush. The 30-year-old leads the team this season with:
- 4 sacks
- 8 quarterback hits
- 15 tackles
- 1 forced fumble
His back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024 underscore his value to a defense already ranked near the bottom of the NFL.
Defensive Adjustments
The Bengals will welcome back rookie edge rusher Shemar Stewart, who has been sidelined since Week 2 with an ankle injury. Defensive coordinator Al Golden stated: “I expected Stewart to receive significant playing time against the AFC North leaders.”
However, Stewart has yet to record a sack in limited action this season. Cincinnati may compensate with increased linebacker blitzes from players like Logan Wilson, though this strategy risks exposing their secondary to Pittsburgh’s offensive weapons.
Playoff Implications
At 2-4 and riding a four-game losing streak, the Bengals desperately need a victory to stay relevant in the AFC North race. Pittsburgh leads the division at 4-1.
With Hendrickson sidelined, the offensive burden falls heavily on Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase to produce against a tough Steelers defense, while the depleted Bengals defense may force riskier offensive play-calling.
