Bengals Not Ruling Out Defensive End Trey Hendrickson for Steelers Game
CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Bengals are not ruling out defensive end Trey Hendrickson for Thursday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hendrickson is listed as “questionable” with a hip injury that originally was labeled a back injury when he was forced out of Sunday’s 27-18 loss at Green Bay.
Also listed as questionable are wide receiver Charlie Jones (ribs) and guard Lucas Patrick (calf), who is on Injured Reserve.
The Bengals have ruled out tight end Tanner Hudson (concussion)
Hendrickson, the 2024 NFL sack leader, has dealt with back issues in the past but has played through them.
If he is able to go Thursday night, he could be limited in how many snaps he's able to play.
Hendrickson has started 42 consecutive games for the Bengals and has appeared in 71 of a possible 73 since signing with the team in 2021.
The last game he missed was Week 15 of 2022 due to a wrist injury.
The only other game he missed was the 2021 finale when the Bengals rested all of their starters.
Rookie first-round defensive end Shemar Stewart does not have an injury designation and is expected to have a big role against Pittsburgh.
Hudson is coming off a game in which he had a season-high four receptions for 10 yards and a touchdown.
His absence combined with starter Mike Gesicki being played on Injured Reserve earlier today leaves the Bengals with Noah Fant, Drew Sample and Cam Grandy at tight end.
Rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild, who missed the Green Bay game with a knee injury, was listed as a full participant on both of the team’s estimated practice reports this week.
Right tackle Amarius Mims missed seven plays against the Packers with a fourth-quarter ankle injury, but he returned and finished the game and was listed as a full participant in both practices this week.
The Bengals enter Thursday's game with a 2-4 record. They've lost four-straight games. Cincinnati needs a win to stay alive in the AFC North.
Check out the Bengals' official injury report below:
Bengals-Steelers Injury Report Week 7 / Bengals
Buccaneers 'fortunate' for Tez Johnson amid WR injury crisis
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can't catch a break when it comes to injuries on the offensive side of the ball against the San Francisco 49ers, already without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield lost Emeka Egbuka in the third quarter.
But it didn't matter.
Why? Tez Johnson.
The rookie has stepped up in the last two weeks, with yards totals of 59 and then 45, with his game against the 49ers seeing him haul in his first NFL touchdown with a diving catch, before doing a backflip in the endzone.
And speaking about Tez, Buccaneers receivers coach Bryan McClendon was nothing but glowing about Johnson from the first time he saw him to now.
“The first thing that jumped off when you watch Tez coming out of college was his ability to create explosive plays,” McClendon said. “Defenses are way too good to go eight, nine, 10 plays in a row without you screwing up something on offense. So, you need guys that you're constantly looking for that can create those explosive plays on their own, and that was something that jumped off the tape about Tez.
"He impressed everybody through the interview process, and we're fired up to get him and even more fortunate right now to be able to have him.”
Tez set for another big role vs. Lions
With Godwin already out of the Week 7 clash, and Evans, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, stating that Evans has a real chance at playing, Tez might again see the field often.
Having taken his chance with both hands, Johnson is now developing chemistry with Mayfield, and we can add him to the long list of weapons that Baker can now dissect defenses with. He also gives Tampa Bay a deep threat option on every play, with his touchdown against the 49ers, a 45-yard bomb.
So, if Evans can't go, the Buccaneers will feel confident in the receivers they have to get the job done, and one will be Tez, who, after biding his time, has gotten his chance, and he's not wasting it.
And for a rookie, that is exactly what the coaching staff wants.
