Bengals’ Late Collapse Followed by Hendrickson Injury Caps Difficult Week for Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bengals entered Sunday’s road matchup against the Buffalo Bills with a faint but still viable chance of salvaging their postseason hopes. For much of the afternoon, they played like a team determined to keep those hopes alive, controlling tempo and dictating the pace on both sides of the ball. But a disastrous fourth quarter erased that momentum in seconds, altering the trajectory of their season.

Quarterback Joe Burrow, sharp for most of the game, threw two interceptions in the final period, including a pick-six that swung momentum firmly toward Buffalo. The Bengals never recovered, ultimately falling in a defeat that all but sealed their postseason fate. The loss capped a frustrating stretch in which Cincinnati had shown flashes of competitiveness without the consistency required to re-enter the playoff picture.

Less than 24 hours later, the Bengals’ misfortune deepened. On Monday, the team learned that defensive anchor Trey Hendrickson, their most disruptive pass rusher and one of the league’s premier edge defenders, would require surgery. The timing only magnified the disappointment surrounding a team that expected to contend but instead finds itself shifting focus toward long-term considerations.

With the postseason now realistically out of reach, Cincinnati moves into the final weeks of the season with difficult roster questions and a depleted defense as they prepare for a divisional rematch against the Baltimore Ravens.

1. Hendrickson’s Injury and Timeline

Trey Hendrickson’s upcoming core-muscle surgery is expected to sideline him for roughly six weeks, according to reporting from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The procedure follows an injury suffered in Week 6 against Green Bay, one that the defensive end attempted to manage through rest and rehabilitation. Despite returning to action two weeks after the original setback, the injury has not improved. Throughout the season, Hendrickson had remained one of the Bengals’ most consistently impactful performers, providing the type of pass-rushing pressure that has defined his Cincinnati tenure. His absence will significantly alter the structure of Lou Anarumo’s defense, which relies heavily on his ability to disrupt quarterbacks. With the Bengals effectively out of the playoff race, the timeline means Hendrickson could return only if the team were to make an unlikely late push or for offseason training. Instead, Cincinnati will shift to evaluating depth players while monitoring the star defender’s recovery progress. The organization must also weigh how the injury—and the recovery period—affects offseason personnel planning at a time when Hendrickson’s contract situation looms large.

2. Contract Questions Loom Over Injury

Hendrickson was a central figure in one of Cincinnati’s defining offseason storylines. A protracted contract dispute raised questions about his long-term future with the franchise, though the two sides ultimately agreed to keep him in place through the 2025 season. The resolution provided short-term stability but did not fully clarify the edge rusher’s future beyond next year. This latest injury complicates his circumstances. While a core-muscle surgery is not typically career-altering, it raises questions about durability and potential contract leverage—particularly for a player who has often elevated the defense single-handedly. For the Bengals, the decision now involves assessing long-term value against immediate availability. Cincinnati will also need to determine how Hendrickson fits into broader roster-building plans, particularly amid anticipated defensive restructuring. The team faces an offseason in which investments in pass rush, secondary play, and overall defensive depth will be critical. For Hendrickson personally, the recovery process will shape how teams—whether the Bengals or others—evaluate his value entering what could become another contentious contract period.

3. Season Outlook After Buffalo Loss

Sunday’s loss to the Bills felt like a turning point in Cincinnati’s season. The Bengals led or controlled significant portions of the game, only to see late turnovers undo earlier progress. Burrow’s pair of fourth-quarter interceptions shifted the contest’s momentum abruptly, transforming a potential road win into a damaging setback. The offense, while showing rhythm at times, struggled to sustain drives in key situations. Meanwhile, the defense—which had held up well throughout the middle stages—faced more strain as mistakes mounted. With Hendrickson’s injury now official, that defensive stability becomes even more uncertain. At this stage, Cincinnati’s postseason path is essentially closed, forcing the team to focus more on development, evaluation, and preserving health for 2026. Late-season matchups will provide opportunities for young players to assume larger roles in Hendrickson’s absence. The Bengals return home next Sunday for a rematch with the Baltimore Ravens, a team that defeated them on Thanksgiving. With playoff stakes gone, Cincinnati shifts into a phase of searching for positives in a season that fell short of expectations.