The Cincinnati Bengals will be without All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson on Sunday when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers in a pivotal AFC North matchup. A win would pull Cincinnati within one game of Pittsburgh in the standings. The Bengals enter at 3-6, while the Steelers sit at 5-4 heading into the contest.
Hendrickson is sidelined with a hip and pelvis injury and has been labeled week to week by the team. His absence marks another setback for a defense that has struggled through the first half of the season.
The former four-time Pro Bowler has been a major force for Cincinnati since signing from the New Orleans Saints, even leading the NFL in sacks last season. However, Hendrickson has not been fully healthy this year, and the Bengals have felt the impact. Sunday will be his third missed game due to injury. Through 11 weeks, he has recorded four sacks and one forced fumble.
The Bengals’ defense enters the weekend ranked last in the league in points allowed, giving up an average of 33.3 points per game. Only the Dallas Cowboys also allow more than 30 points per contest.
Without Hendrickson, the pressure shifts to the Bengals’ offense to compensate. Joe Flacco, Ja’Marr Chase and the rest of Cincinnati’s playmakers will likely need a high-scoring performance to keep pace. Earlier this season, the Bengals put up 33 points against Pittsburgh, offering some optimism as they enter the rematch short-handed.
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