Bengals postgame wrap after loss to Chicago Bears
Enquirer beat reporter Kelsey Conway on the Bengals’ 47-42 loss to the Chicago Bears on Nov. 2.
Some expected the Cincinnati Bengals to accept the best offer they got in advance of the NFL trade deadline for defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Nov. 8 that the Bengals weren’t offered more than a fourth-round draft pick for Hendrickson, who was inactive for the Bengals’ Week 9 loss to the Chicago Bears.
“There was plenty of discussion about Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, but when it all became real on Monday and Tuesday, sources say no offer was better than a fourth-round pick for 2024’s sack champion,” Rapoport wrote. “Due to what’s left of his $16-million base salary, with Cincinnati having already paid him $13 million, a second-rounder was required to make a trade possible. It doesn’t sound like the Bengals got close to that. One contributing factor might have been health, with Hendrickson missing time recently for a hip injury. Teams could not have given him a physical before agreeing to terms, making it more complicated.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported early Nov. 2 that the Bengals’ stance on being willing to trade Hendrickson could change if they lose to the Bears.
Hendrickson aggravated his hip injury during the second quarter of the team’s NFL Week 8 loss to the Jets at Paycor Stadium. A late block from behind by Jets offensive lineman John Simpson left Hendrickson rolling around in pain on the play in which he aggravated his injury.
Hendrickson also was inactive for the Bengals’ NFL Week 7 win against the Steelers on Thursday Night Football. Analyst Kirk Herbstreit said during the broadcast that the Bengals’ pass rush without Hendrickson was a non-factor.