Cincinnati Bengals Expected To Be Without Key Defender Against the Pittsburgh Steelers

Let’s not sugarcoat this – Hendrickson isn’t just another player on Cincinnati’s roster. He is their defensive heartbeat, their quarterback terrorizer, and quite possibly the only reason opposing offensive coordinators lose sleep when preparing for the Bengals. With four sacks already this season and a track record that includes back-to-back 17.5-sack campaigns in 2023 and 2024, losing him feels like showing up to a gunfight with a pool noodle.

The injury occurred during Sunday’s gut-wrenching 27-18 loss to Green Bay, where Hendrickson exited at halftime with what’s being called a back contusion. Translation? His back hurts so bad he can’t terrorize quarterbacks, which is basically his entire job description. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that while Hendrickson desperately wanted to play, the short Thursday turnaround made it impossible.

A Perfect Storm Of Bad Luck

Here’s where it gets really fun for Bengals fans – and by fun, I mean absolutely soul-crushing. Cincinnati is already without its offensive cornerstone Joe Burrow, who’s nursing his own injury woes. Now they are missing their best defensive player, too. It’s like watching someone try to win a chess match after voluntarily removing their queen and their most aggressive rook.

The timing couldn’t be more brutal. Pittsburgh sits pretty at 4-1, ready to take a commanding stranglehold on the AFC North with a win. Meanwhile, the Bengals are drowning at 2-4, desperately clinging to any hope of salvaging their season. Losing Hendrickson against a Steelers offense that’s already clicking on multiple cylinders? That’s not just bad luck – that’s football gods actively trolling Cincinnati fans.

Who Steps Up In the Chaos?

With Hendrickson sidelined, all eyes turn to guys like Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart to fill a massive void. Stewart, who’s been dealing with his own ankle issues since Week 2, is expected to return just in time for this crucial divisional clash. Talk about trial by fire – going from injured reserve to trying to replace one of the league’s premier pass rushers against a division rival in primetime.

The Bengals’ defense will need to get creative and fast. You can’t just plug another body into Hendrickson’s spot and expect the same results. This is a guy who’s started 42 consecutive games and appeared in 71 of 73 possible contests since joining Cincinnati in 2021.

Thursday Night Lights, Thursday Night Frights

This Thursday night matchup on Amazon Prime just got a whole lot more interesting. Cincinnati needs this win desperately to stay within shouting distance of respectability, but doing it without their defensive anchor against a confident Steelers squad feels like asking someone to climb Mount Everest in flip-flops.

The silver lining? Football’s funny sometimes. Sometimes the guys who step up in moments like these become the heroes nobody saw coming. Maybe Stewart shakes off the rust and channels his inner pass-rushing demon. Maybe Murphy decides this is his breakout moment. Or maybe the Bengals find a way to win ugly, the way playoff hopes are sometimes salvaged.

One thing’s certain – Cincinnati fans better buckle up for what could be either a miraculous defensive effort or a long, painful evening watching their season slip further away. With the AFC North looking more like the Steelers’ personal playground every week, the Bengals can’t afford many more nights like this one might become.