Joe Flacco's honest admission about Trey Hendrickson makes Bengals' timely decision all the more important

There was an alternate timeline in which the Cincinnati Bengals wouldn't have defensive end Trey Hendrickson for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.

Hendrickson and the Bengals finally came together last week on a raise that will pay the All-Pro pass rusher up to $14 million this year. Had a deal not been reached, it was entirely possible for Hendrickson to keep his word and sit out of regular season games.

Now that he's set to play in Cleveland, Browns starting quarterback Joe Flacco has one more thing to worry about in the pocket.

Joe Flacco gives Trey Hendrickson his flowers

The scouting report on Cincinnati's defense absolutely starts with No. 91 coming off the right edge of the defensive line. Nearly half of the Bengals' sacks were made by Hendrickson last year, and he had 51 more pressures than his closest teammate according to Pro Football Focus.

It won't be Flacco's first rodeo going up against the four-time Pro Bowler, but that doesn't mean it'll be any easier, either.

"He’s a hell of a player," Flacco said of Hendrickson to reporters Wednesday. "I’ve gone against him multiple times and he’s going to make his presence felt. You know, players like that, they usually find a way to do that. So, once again, for us, it just goes back to fundamentals, playing within ourselves, obviously, having a plan to take care of that and then not overreacting if he makes a play here and there. Just getting back to the core part of the game plan and trying to take care of as much as we can.”

Flacco earned QB1 status for Cleveland this offseason despite Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabiel, and Shedeur Sanders all joining the mix. The 40-year old is now in his 18th season, and can still throw an accurate ball with power when he needs to. Consider Joe Burrow in his corner as a believer.

"I think he throws it better than a lot of people give him credit for," Burrow said of Flacco. "And I think he's one of the more natural throws of football that I've ever seen. He can spin it with the best of them. He's got one of the strongest arms of all time."

The key to stopping him? Pressure.

"He's going to be able to put the ball when and where he wants to put it. You just gotta find ways to affect him and move him off of his spot. And I know that our defense will have a good game plan for that."

If Flacco has enough time, he's capable of poking holes in a Bengals defense that has much to prove. When Cincinnati has needed a win up front, Hendrickson has almost always been the man for the job. The key to rattling the first quarterback on their schedule will be disrupting him.

Flacco knows that's far more likely with Hendrickson barreling down his blindside come Sunday afternoon.