The Cincinnati Bengals could be losing one of their biggest defensive stars much sooner than expected. Trey Hendrickson’s 2025 season heads for an early conclusion after reports surfaced that he might need surgery for a serious core muscle injury.

NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that Hendrickson is traveling to Philadelphia to meet Dr. William Meyers at the Vincera Institute, a specialist well-known for treating core and abdominal injuries in professional athletes. According to the report, surgery would officially end Hendrickson’s season.

Hendrickson first suffered the injury during the Bengals’ Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He managed to suit up one more time in Week 8 against the New York Jets, but since then, he hasn’t returned to the field. His last game action came in late October, and given the latest update, that might have been his final appearance for the Bengals in 2025.

The injury adds another layer of difficulty for a player who had already been fighting through a tough offseason. After posting back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons, Hendrickson pushed for a deal that placed him financially among the NFL’s top edge rushers. The Bengals, however, held firm and refused to offer the long-term extension he wanted.

Cincinnati's future faces a tough financial puzzle. With large contracts already committed to Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ star receivers, placing a franchise tag on Hendrickson next year could prove too expensive to manage.

What This Means for Hendrickson and Cincinnati

For Hendrickson, timing couldn’t be worse. He worked through uncertainty to prove his value once again, only for an unfortunate injury to derail a promising campaign.

If this is truly the end of his time with the Bengals, Hendrickson leaves behind a strong legacy. Over five seasons in Cincinnati, he recorded 61 sacks, earned four trips to the Pro Bowl, and made First-Team All-Pro in 2024. Those numbers put him among the top defensive linemen in franchise history.

Meanwhile, the Bengals must face a growing reality: balancing their payroll around stars like Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins comes with consequences. Losing Hendrickson would not only create a hole on the defensive front but would also mark the end of one of Cincinnati’s most dominant defensive eras.

For now, the focus is on Hendrickson’s health and recovery. Fans are left wondering whether they’ve already watched him play his final snap in orange and black, an outcome that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago but now feels all too real.

Written by

Mohd Mudabbir Ansari

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu