Tag: Trey Hendrickson

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates a stop in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. The Bengals won 19-17 to finish the regular season at 9-8.

New Raven Trey Hendrickson in ‘win-now window’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Trey Hendrickson is energized and excited to help the Ravens chase a championship. The sooner, the better.

“I’m in a win-now window,” the veteran pass rusher said at his introductory press conference Friday in Baltimore.

“My career has been phenomenal, and I’ve been blessed to meet great people and win a lot of games. This opportunity to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, get into the win column and build something from the ground up is an amazing opportunity.”

The Ravens represent a third act for Hendrickson, 31, who agreed to a four-year, $112 million deal this week after five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and four with the New Orleans Saints.

He brings 81 career sacks to a Baltimore defense that managed only 30 last season — only the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers had fewer. He also brings an attitude that fits the Ravens’ traditional smashmouth style.

“I’m a football player,” Hendrickson said. “I like to put my hand in the dirt. I like the smell of the grass. I like my cleats sweaty when I come in from a hard training camp practice. That’s what I built my brand on.”

Those remarks prompted a smile from general manager Eric DeCosta, who completed the deal with Hendrickson after a failed physical submarined the signing of Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby.

DeCosta insists that the Ravens were looking at signing Hendrickson before the deal with Crosby fell apart.

“What a phenomenal opportunity that would’ve been,” Hendrickson said of Crosby. “Nothing but respect for the way he carries himself on and off the field and the adversity he’s overcome. You’ve got guys in this building that I’m excited to play with, as well. That’s (what is) so special about this. It feels so defensive-minded.”

Hendrickson looks forward to carrying on the tradition of defensive stars like Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed and playing with a two-time MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson.

“If you can’t get excited to play here, you have to check your pulse,” Hendrickson said. “It’s exciting to start something fresh. That was probably overdue for me.”

Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024 before missing 10 games last season to injury and undergoing core muscle surgery in December.

“A game wrecker as a pass rusher. A game wrecker as a run defender. One of the most dominant players in the National Football League,” Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said of Hendrickson. “When we talk about being able to have a closer mentality and finish games and dominate in the fourth quarter, Trey is the epitome of that with how he’s played the last four or five years.”

–Field Level Media

Aug 16, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of the Baltimore Ravens logo and helmets before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Ravens GM ‘gutted’; claims plan was to pair Trey Hendrickson, Maxx Crosby

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The Baltimore Ravens spent the weekend considering a pass-rush duo that could have transformed their defense: five-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby on one edge and four-time Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson on the other.

By Tuesday morning, the plan was gone and general manager Eric DeCosta was left explaining why Baltimore nixed its agreement to acquire Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders one day before signing Hendrickson to a lucrative free-agent contract.

“Nobody’s more upset about this than me — gutted by it, actually,” DeCosta said Wednesday afternoon at the team facility. “And so a regret, a big regret for me, but we will move on as a football team.”

On Friday, Baltimore agreed to send two first-round picks to Las Vegas for Crosby with the deal to be made official when the NFL’s new league year began Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Ravens brought in Crosby, who underwent knee surgery in January, to complete the standard physical. Multiple reports indicated the Ravens could not move forward with the deal after reviewing the results.

DeCosta confirmed Crosby was in the building, but he said the team “couldn’t complete the process.” He declined to be more specific about Crosby, who owns 69.5 career sacks in 110 games.

The fallout was immediate and noisy because Baltimore pivoted quickly to Hendrickson, who owns 81 sacks in 117 regular-season games. The Ravens reached a four-year, $112 million agreement with the former Bengals star within 24 hours of scuttling the trade.

That timing fueled the easy assumption that the Ravens got cold feet on the Crosby price tag and grabbed a different edge rusher instead. DeCosta pushed back on that idea, saying the point was to pursue both.

He said the Hendrickson talks began Monday when the team learned center Tyler Linderbaum was headed to Las Vegas and were originally framed as a complement to Crosby, not a replacement.

“We live in that age of skepticism,” DeCosta said. “I’ve got a responsibility to the Ravens, to this community, to our fans and to (majority owner) Steve Bisciotti to do what we think is best for the club.”

DeCosta downplayed any potential long-term damage from the failed trade, pointing out that his phone is “still ringing” and insisting the Ravens’ relationships around the league remain strong.

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a third quarter gain defended by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Reports: Ravens sign pass rusher Trey Hendrickson after nixing Crosby trade

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Pass rusher Trey Hendrickson came to terms with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday, agreeing to a four-year, $112 million contract less than 24 hours after the team nixed the Maxx Crosby trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Hendrickson spent the past two seasons in contractual tumult with the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals.

Baltimore was set to make its deal involving two first-round picks for Crosby official on Wednesday, the first day of the league year, but informed the Raiders on Tuesday night the trade was off because of a failed physical. Crosby is coming off of knee surgery, but his agent said Tuesday night he is on schedule to participate in training camp, a timeline shared with the Ravens prior to the deal being agreed upon last week.

Hendrickson negotiated a one-year salary bump to $30 million for 2025 after a long and testy holdout with the Bengals. His goal was to reach the top of the market on a contract extension and produced on a level with the highest-paid players at the position.

He had 17.5 sacks in 2024, was named a first-team All-Pro and was second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Over the 2023-24 seasons, Hendrickson led the NFL with 35 sacks. Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, who signed a massive contract extension in 2024, was second with 30.5.

Hendrickson, 31, had only 4.0 sacks last season and his availability was limited to seven games because of injuries. He suffered a core muscle injury in Week 6 and attempted to return too soon, ultimately landing on season-ending injured reserve.

He underwent core muscle surgery but is expected to be fully healthy when training camp begins.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates the win after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Reports: Bengals won’t tag star DE Trey Hendrickson

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The Cincinnati Bengals will not franchise tag star defensive end Trey Hendrickson, according to multiple reports ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, making the four-time Pro Bowler a free agent.

Teams had until Tuesday afternoon to issue franchise or transition tags to players eligible to become free agents next week.

Hendrickson’s 2025 season was shortened by core muscle surgery in December. He last played on Oct. 26 and totaled only seven games (all starts).

Hendrickson finished with 16 tackles, including four sacks and three tackles for loss, as well as one forced fumble and eight quarterback hits. He played 59% of the defensive snaps.

Hendrickson, 31, entered 2025 with an NFL-best 35 total sacks over the previous two years.

He had spent the offseason ahead of the 2025 slate in a standoff with the Bengals over the lack of a contract extension. He requested a trade, but Cincinnati eventually coaxed him out of a holdout posture with a $14 million raise that pushed his salary to $30 million.

Hendrickson has 81 career sacks in 117 games with the New Orleans Saints (2017-20) and Bengals. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons (2021-24) and was first-team All-Pro in 2024.

New Orleans selected Hendrickson in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Florida Atlantic.

–Field Level Media

Report: Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson undergoes core muscle surgery

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Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson underwent core muscle surgery Tuesday morning and will miss the remainder of the regular season, NFL Network reported.

A traditional recovery time following this type of surgery is six weeks, per the report.

The Bengals (4-9) are three games behind the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) with four games left.

Hendrickson, who turned 31 on Friday, last played in a game on Oct. 26 against the New York Jets.

He recorded 16 tackles and four sacks in seven games this season.

Hendrickson spent the offseason in a standoff with the Bengals over the lack of a contract extension. He officially requested a trade, but the Bengals eventually coaxed him out of a holdout posture with a $14 million raise that pushed his 2025 salary to $30 million.

Hendrickson entered 2025 with an NFL-best 35 total sacks over the previous two seasons. The four-time Pro Bowler has 81 career sacks in 117 games with the New Orleans Saints (2017-20) and Bengals.

–Field Level Media

Bengals face more uncertainty with WR Tee Higgins, DE Trey Hendrickson

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins returned to the concussion protocol after his team’s dramatic Sunday loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Physicians evaluated Higgins for a concussion at multiple points of Cincinnati’s 39-34 defeat, and though he was cleared to continue to play, he reported symptoms following the game and was placed in the protocol, Bengals coach Zac Taylor confirmed at his Monday press conference.

Taylor also said defensive end Trey Hendrickson is headed to a specialist for his abdominal strain and won’t play Sunday against the Ravens. ESPN reported Hendrickson is expected to opt for hernia surgery and miss at least six weeks, ending his season.

Higgins missed the Bengals’ previous game, a 32-14 win at the Ravens on Nov. 27, due to a concussion sustained four days earlier when he smacked his head on the turf as Cincinnati fell to the New England Patriots.

He resumed practicing and cleared the protocol in the days leading up to the Bills game.

Higgins caught six passes for a team-high 92 yards against Buffalo. He reeled in his second touchdown grab on a snowy afternoon on a 25-yard lob from Joe Burrow with 2:13 remaining in the fourth quarter.

That catch accounted for the game’s final score as the Bengals failed to convert a two-point pass attempt and never got the ball back. Buffalo tallied the next 21 points in a 4 1/2-minute span to wipe out a Cincinnati lead.

The Bengals fell to 4-9, four wins below the AFC playoff cutline.

Higgins has totaled 46 catches for 667 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 appearances. He, Burrow and star wideout Ja’Marr Chase have played just three games together this season.

Burrow sat out nine games with a turf toe injury, returning in time to face the Ravens. Chase served a suspension against the Patriots for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey.

Hendrickson turned 31 last week. He has played in seven games after a holdout over his contract kept him off the field with the Bengals during the offseason and training camp.

The dispute was temporarily resolved when the Bengals adjusted his 2025 compensation, but he is still scheduled for free agency in March.

He had 17.5 sacks in 2023 and 17.5 more in 2024 but was limited to just four sacks this season, giving Hendrickson 81 sacks in 117 career games.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) runs off before a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. The Bengals won, 33-31.

Bengals QB Joe Flacco active, DE Trey Hendrickson out vs. Bears

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco is active and expected to start against the visiting Chicago Bears on Sunday, despite nursing an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder.

Flacco, who is listed as questionable to play against the Bears (4-3), was limited in practice on Thursday before failing to participate on Friday.

Flacco, 40, sustained his injury in last week’s 39-38 loss to the New York Jets. It was his third start since being acquired from the Cleveland Browns.

He has eight touchdowns (seven passing, one rushing) and no interceptions with Cincinnati (3-5). Still, the Bengals are 1-2 with Flacco as QB1.

While Flacco is active on Sunday for the Bengals, they will be without star defensive end Trey Hendrickson for the second time in three games. Hendrickson is inactive after being listed as doubtful to play due to a hip injury.

Cincinnati also listed the following players as inactive: cornerback Marco Wilson, linebacker Logan Wilson, guard Dalton Risner, wide receiver Jermaine Burton and tight end Cam Grandy.

As for the Bears, running backs D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson, wide receiver Luther Burden III, defensive lineman Dominique Robinson, quarterback Case Keenum and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II are inactive.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) watches a replay as the Detroit Lions celebrate a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 5 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Detroit Lions at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. The Bengals continued a losing streak, falling 37-24 to the Lions.

Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson (hip) makes early exit in loss to Jets

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Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson was ruled out of Sunday’s game after he reaggravated a right hip injury during the first half of the 39-38 home loss to the New York Jets.

Hendrickson was returning after a one-game absence following a hip injury that sidelined him last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The initial injury came in a 27-18 loss at Green Bay on Oct. 12.

Hendrickson’s injury Sunday came late in the first half when he was knocked to the ground from behind on the pass rush. He walked gingerly to the sideline and was ruled out for the remainder of the game during halftime.

Coming off consecutive 17 1/2-sack seasons and his first All-Pro honor last year, Hendrickson is playing on a one-year, $30 million contract after requesting a trade from Cincinnati in March.

He has four sacks in seven games, recording one tackle in his return Sunday before exiting the game.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates the win after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson (hip) active, set to play vs. Jets

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After a one-week absence, Cincinnati Bengals standout defensive end Trey Hendrickson is set to return Sunday against the visiting New York Jets.

Hendrickson, who was listed as questionable with a hip injury, is active despite failing to practice on Friday. He was limited Wednesday and Thursday.

The 30-year-old pass rusher, who had 17 1/2 sacks each of the last two seasons, has four sacks in six games this season. He’s playing on a one-year, $29 million contract with Cincinnati after requesting a trade in March.

The Bengals (3-4) won last Thursday vs. Pittsburgh without Hendrickson. Now he’s back in action against an 0-7 Jets team that has allowed a league-high 31 sacks this season.

While New York will be without cornerback Sauce Gardner (concussion) and quarterback Tyrod Taylor (knee), the Jets also did get some good injury news. Running back Breece Hall (knee) and tight end Mason Taylor (quadriceps) are both active vs. Cincinnati after they were listed as questionable.

Hall (448 yards) is the only New York running back with over 100 rushing yards on the season. Mason Taylor (208 yards) is second in receiving yards behind Garrett Wilson (395), who is inactive for the second straight week.

–Field Level Media

Sep 26, 2025; Maynooth, Ireland; Pittsburgh Steelers safety Deshon Elliott (25) throws the ball during practice at Carton House. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Report: Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson likely out vs. Steelers

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All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson is not expected to play Thursday when his Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL Network reported.

Hendrickson, who is listed as questionable for the game, did not practice this week after sustaining a hip injury during Cincinnati’s 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

As for the Steelers (4-1), starting safety DeShon Elliott traveled to Cincinnati and is expected to play against the Bengals (2-4).

Elliott will no longer have an injury designation after previously being listed as questionable for personal reasons.

Hendrickson, 30, led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5 and has four in six games in 2025.

A Pro Bowl selection in each of his previous four seasons with Cincinnati, he was an All-Pro in 2024, Hendrickson has 81 sacks, 235 tackles and 15 forced fumbles in 116 career games (87 starts) with the New Orleans Saints (2017-20) and Bengals.

The Bengals placed Mike Gesicki on injured reserve with a pectoral injury on Wednesday and ruled out fellow tight end Tanner Hudson (concussion) for Thursday’s game. Wide receiver Charlie Jones (ribs) and guard Lucas Patrick (calf) are listed as questionable for Thursday’s contest.

Elliott, 28, missed two games after sustaining a knee injury in the season opener against the New York Jets. He has 24 tackles, one interception, one sack and one forced fumble in three games.

The Steelers previously ruled out safety and special teams captain Miles Killebrew (knee) and wide receiver Calvin Austin III (shoulder) for Thursday’s game. Malik Harrison (knee), who is on the designated for return list, is questionable after turning in a limited practice on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media