Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Trey Hendrickson news makes a Bengals playoff push even more unlikely

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Dec 8, 2025 5:00 PM ET

A day after blowing a game in Buffalo, the Cincinnati Bengals learned devastating news that makes their chances at the playoffs seem even more unlikely.

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson will undergo core muscle surgery this week, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Hendrickson is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks, so it would likely require Cincinnati making the playoffs to get him back on the field this season.

Trey Hendrickson already tried to rush back from this injury once

After initially suffering the injury during the Bengals' Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Hendrickson reportedly rushed to return two weeks later against the Jets, a game Cincinnati lost by just one point, 39-38, on Oct. 26.

Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson is set to undergo core muscle surgery this week that is expected to sideline him approximately six weeks, per sources. Hendrickson initially suffered the injury during week 6 against Green Bay, and pushed to play two weeks later against the Jets. This… pic.twitter.com/eS3uUtiQ3o
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 8, 2025

With or without Hendrickson, embarking on another late-season playoff push was going to be difficult for the Bengals no matter what.

Sunday's 39-34 loss to the Bills dropped Cincinnati's record to 4-9 and two games behind the Ravens and three back of the Steelers in the AFC North standings. And beyond the division, Cincinnati has four fewer wins than the Houston Texans, who currently sit as the conference's No. 7 seed and last wild card.

Trey Hendrickson may have played his final game for Bengals

It's also possible Hendrickson, who has been with Cincinnati since 2021, may have played his final game for the Bengals. Despite being unable to work out a contract extension in the offseason, the franchise and the four-time Pro Bowler agreed on a restructured contract that increased his 2025 salary to $14M.

Even with the missed time, Hendrickson has posted 16 total tackles and four sacks in seven games in 2025.

To this point, Hendrickson has played in 117 regular-season games between his time with the New Orleans Saints and Bengals. He has 236 total career tackles, 81 sacks, 16 pass deflections and 15 forced fumbles.

The Saints' third round pick in 2017, Hendrickson was a key part of Cincinnati's AFC championship team in 2021 that eventually came up just short against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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