Cheap shot
NFL sack champion Trey Hendrickson says he not only got re-injured on a cheap shot from Jets guard John Simpson last week that took him out of Sunday's game, he was originally hurt on Oct. 12 in Green Bay by somebody he didn't see who knocked him out of the Oct. 16 win against Pittsburgh.
"Oh yeah. The injury report said I re-aggravated my hip, so it's public," Hendrickson said Monday. "Two games I didn't see my opponent. That's new, too. Right in the back, I especially enjoy that."
If Hendrickson sounds sarcastic, he was. Very. He's also frustrated he can't play and isn't sure when he can. "This is unchartered territory for me," Hendrickson said. In his five-year Bengals' career, he had missed one game before this season.
"I think Zac said I'm day-to-day. Today, I'm not playing football. Tomorrow, we'll see what comes," Hendrickson said. "I have a standard for my game and didn't play up to that standard (against the Jets). It was evident.
"Guys who played through injuries: Sam Hubbard, DJ Reader, Cam Jordan … How they loved the game and how they continued to fight adversity. I have a new found respect."
After leading the NFL with 35 sacks the past two seasons, Hendrickson has four in seven games. He ended a hold-in late in training camp when he got a raise, so Tuesday's trade deadline is a raging media topic and he says his health has nothing to do with it.
"You are where your feet are. I'm blessed to be where I am I right now," Hendrickson said. "I don't think that's something that's reality. I'm excited to go home and play with my son."
Battle Joined
After Sunday's game, Bengals safety Jordan Battle said he needed a day to soak in what had transpired on the Paycor Stadium turf and promised to talk to the media.
Battle, good to his word, stood in front of his locker Monday and took on all comers asking the toughest questions an NFL player has to answer.
Why is his unit struggling and how can it get better?
The Bears sent the Bengals defense into the bye week after allowing 86 points and more than 1,000 yards the last two weeks. Battle expressed faith in the scheme and defensive coordinator Al Golden, and has an idea how to make things better.
"Just go out there and play fast, play ball. That's one of the main things we can do," Battle said. "Play fast. If you're in the gap, shoot that gap, make that play. If you don't make the play but you're in the right gap, it allows someone to make a play. I just feel like guys have to do their part and enable guys to make their plays."
With the Bengals leading, 42-41, with 23 seconds left and the Bears on their own 42, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams rifled a pass over the middle to rookie tight end Colston Loveland, and he bounced off Battle at the Bengals 40 and scored the winning touchdown.
"I just have to wrap up," Battle said. "Get him on the ground for a field goal. The kicker wasn't kicking well, he probably would have missed. I have to make more of a secure tackle and not go for the big hit."
Golden, admiring how quickly Williams got rid of it, indicated that play's not all on Battle, one of five Bengals who missed two tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.
"I think if we could've had him hold it for one count, we could have got the ball to a checkdown, used up some time, and we didn't do it," Golden said. "Inside leverage by the nickel (Josh Newton) so it couldn't be a line drive throw. You can't throw a line drive in there. I think we are going to have a chance to get there."
And, without Hendrickson, the Bengals' pass rush did much of the day, hitting Williams seven times and sacking him twice. According to PFF, Ossai had five pressures and Johnson and edge Myles Murphy had three each. Again, Johnson showing up on 16 scrimmage snaps in his 2025 debut after such limited work.
"He had a great attitude. He was out for so long that he was an unknown. We never even really saw him in pads," Golden said. "He worked really hard to put himself in that position. I'd say it was a positive outing for Ced and something we're hopeful he builds on. I like Ced a lot. I like his approach. I think he's versatile. He can set the edge. He's strong but has enough versatility to drop."