Trey Hendrickson injury update: Bengals DE to undergo surgery

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson will undergo core muscle surgery this week. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Hendrickson is set to be sidelined for approximately six weeks.

Hendrickson, who has not played since the Week 8 defeat to the New York Jets, initially suffered the hip injury two weeks prior against the Green Bay Packers. The 31-year-old has since been resting and rehabbing the injury, though it has not improved. With the Bengals at 4-9 and out of playoff contention, Hendrickson’s 2025 season is over.

Hendrickson, a Pro Bowler pass rusher in each of the last four seasons, tallied 16 tackles (11 solo), four sacks and a forced fumble in seven games this season. The Bengals’ defense has struggled with and without Hendrickson on the field, as they are the league’s No. 32 ranked unit.

Hendrickson spent the offseason in a contract dispute with Cincinnati ownership. He was initially holding in on the Bengals to start training camp but rejoined the team for practice at the end of July. Before the start of the season, the two sides agreed to a deal to increase Hendrickson’s 2025 salary to $30 million — a raise of around $14 million. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Hendrickson in 2024 led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in addition to two forced fumbles, six PBUs and 46 total tackles. He finished second in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting this past season.

Trey Hendrickson has decision to make this offseason

Hendrickson will soon have a decision to make on his future. It’s possible he’s played his last game as a Bengal.

“With the salaries going up and the tag also will be going up, so it’s not something that I’m concerned about,” Hendrickson said in August. “I have to focus on what the 2025 Bengals means to me. And I want to be a part of something special here. I’m vocalize that pretty early and often again I can’t write my own contracts. I think we’d all, as players, love to do that.

“There wasn’t one that I saw long-term that I would have considered. So again, this compromise comes with a great amount of respect for me towards them. I’m incredibly honored and appreciative that I can play football at this level this week.”