Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson was ruled out of Thursday night's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a hip injury as trade rumors involving the NFL star continue to swirl
21:32 ET, 16 Oct 2025
Hendrickson
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Trey Hendrickson sat out Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Philadelphia Eagles have surfaced as an unexpected contender in the NFL trade market as Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson continues to battle injury concerns and questions surrounding his future in Cincinnati.
Hendrickson ranks among the NFL's elite pass rushers and was sidelined from Thursday night's clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a hip injury sustained in last week's 27–18 defeat to the Green Bay Packers. His availability was originally listed as "questionable," but the Bengals subsequently announced he would sit out.
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That confirmation arrived just moments before kickoff, when NFL Network's Ian Rapoport released a bombshell report that stunned Bengals supporters and immediately sparked trade rumors. It comes as Joe Burrow debuted a new look on a return to the sidelines, but his Thursday Night Football sighting left NFL fans worried.
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"My understanding is the MRI came back relatively clean, just too quick for him to come back tonight," Rapoport revealed on TNF GameDay on Prime Video.
"There's no major injury, which is good news. But regarding the trade front, this is very unlike the Bengals. Teams are going to call if they continue to lose."
Rapoport noted that any prospective transaction would probably demand "a young player who could help now and into the future" alongside a mid-round draft pick. But that's only if Cincinnati were even open to making the move.
Sirianni
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Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni could use Hendrickson's talents to combat his team's defensive woes
The Bengals sit at 2-4, and with Burrow unavailable, the offense has struggled under backup Jake Browning. The team was forced to make a last-minute call to sign Joe Flacco for the Steelers game due to their high risk of missing the playoffs.
Currently leading the NFC East at 4-2, the Eagles have been pinpointed as a potential suitor after struggling to maintain consistent pressure this season.
NFL insider Tony Pauline has also linked the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys to the pass rusher outside of Philadelphia. After trading Micah Parsons and acquiring a slew of picks, Dallas could use them to bolster their edge rush.
With just nine sacks in six games, Philadelphia ranks near the bottom third of the NFL. Despite missing time, Hendrickson already has four sacks, placing him 16th in the league.
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Even before the season started, Hendrickson's future with the Bengals was uncertain, especially considering his impressive 17.5-sack season in 2024, which surpassed the rest of the Bengals' defense combined.
He skipped training camp in hopes of securing a long-term extension.
The standoff concluded when he agreed to a restructured deal worth $29 million for the final year of his contract, including a $13 million raise.
At that time, Hendrickson expressed his desire for "stability for his family" and clarity about his role moving forward.
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With the NFL trade deadline set for November 4, the next two weeks could decide whether the Bengals hold onto their defensive anchor or cash in ahead of a potential rebuild.
A potential deal for Hendrickson could be the key to reigniting the Eagles' defensive prowess, paving the way for another Super Bowl championship.