The Bengals’ 30th-ranked scoring defense will likely be without its best player tonight against the Steelers.
Hours ahead of Cincinnati’s Thursday Night Football kickoff against Pittsburgh, ESPN’s Jeremy
Fowler reported that defensive end Trey Hendrickson is not expected to play.
Hendrickson is listed as questionable ahead of the game and has been dealing with a back injury.
The star defensive end recorded 17.5-sack seasons in both 2023 and 2024, and he was up to four through the first six weeks of his 2025 campaign. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler who was named a first-team All-Pro last season.
Fowler reported that Hendrickson wanted to play, but the short week of Thursday Night Football made it a tough ask. If Hendrickson is indeed ruled out, the Bengals are expected to turn to 2025 first-round defensive end Shemar Stewart, who’s played 66 defensive snaps this season. He’s yet to record his first NFL sack.
The Bengals enter tonight’s game with a 2-4 record, still second in the AFC North behind the 4-1 Steelers.
