Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) stands by before the first quarter of the NFL 16 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Steelers led 24-0 at halftime. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

'It's A Possibility' - Joe Burrow Discusses Scenario Where Bengals Don't Get Trey Hendrickson On The Field

Originally posted on Cincinnati Bengals on SI
By Russell Heltman | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 6:33 AM ET

Joe Burrow recognized Trey Hendrickson's importance during his media address on Tuesday. The Bengals quarterback knows it's a possibility they don't have Hendrickson this season.

The frustrated defensive end is not participating in mandatory minicamp this week amidst his search for a new contract.

"Obviously it's a possibility," Burrow said. "It's not one that I think would make us a better team. So we'll see what ends up happening. I don't know what's going to happen. I wish I had an answer for you, but we'll see."

Burrow is spot on in saying the Bengals won't be better without Hendrickson, in fact, they track to be much, much worse. The pass defense has fallen off a cliff without him over the past two seasons, as evidenced by the numbers below:

OFF field: #32 success rate allowed (55%), #32 completion rate (69%), #32 EPA/attempt (+0.16), #32 passer rating (106.2), #32 pressure rate (25%)

ON field: #8 success rate allowed (44%), #11 completion rate (64%), #19 EPA/attempt (-0.00), #8 passer rating, (86.9), #12 pressure rate (35%)

If Cincinnati is serious about putting a championship-level roster around its best quarterback in franchise history, they'll find a way to get a deal done with Hendrickson.