Bengals not shopping Trey Hendrickson, All-Pro not expected to be traded

Bengals not shopping Trey Hendrickson, All-Pro not expected to be traded originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a confidence boosting 33-31 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football. Led by new quarterback Joe Flacco, the Bengals were able to secure a huge victory to get to 3-4 on the year.

Now, with the Steelers at 4-2 in the division lead, the Bengals have a chance to make up that ground for a playoff push. And with Joe Burrow slated to be back in mid-December, the Bengals' playoff hopes received a huge jolt with their Week 7 win.

In the aftermath, as Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports, the Bengals have seemingly decided what they're going to do with Trey Hendrickson. Amid plenty of trade rumors, the Bengals are expected to hold onto the All-Pro, as they're not making calls nor expected to make a trade this deadline.

Bengals not expected to trade Trey Hendrickson

"Bengals All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is drawing attention around the league," Russini writes, "with the 49ers showing the most interest. Cincinnati isn't shopping him, and after the Bengals' Thursday night win, most do not expect him to get moved."

Cincinnati's win over the Steelers wasn't just huge for their playoff chances; it also dramatically shifted the narrative around a Hendrickson trade.

If they lost, the Bengals would've been 2-5, and looking like a clear seller. But now, at 3-4, the Bengals are only a game and a half behind the Steelers in the AFC North, and within striking distance.

Flacco has changed the trajectory of this team, and if he can keep the team afloat, then the Bengals should be able to get Burrow back for a playoff push at the end of the year.

More: ESPN predicts Bengals trade Trey Hendrickson to Lions for solid draft pick compensation

In such a scenario, moving on from Hendrickson would hurt the team's chances to contend dramatically. Losing an All-Pro pass rusher, who led the NFL in sacks in 2024 with 17.5, would be a huge loss for the defense.

The Bengals were looking for a mid-round pick plus a young defender in return for Hendrickson. However, now it's looking like the Bengals won't trade the pass rusher at all, as the comeback win over the Steelers has reignited the franchise's playoff hopes.

Despite there being a ton of interest around the league, the Bengals are now expected to hold onto the $29 million pass rusher for the rest of the 2025 season, as Cincinnati looks to contend despite Burrow being out until December and the team's 3-4 losing record.

More Bengals News:

• Cincinnati Bengals acquiring Joe Flacco in trade with Cleveland Browns
• When will Joe Burrow return? Turf toe recovery timeline, return date for Bengals star QB
• Joe Flacco record vs. AFC North: How Bengals QB has historically performed against division rivals Browns, Steelers
• Bengals' Trey Hendrickson unlikely to play in Thursday Night Football vs. Steelers
• Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase has more tackles than Micah Parsons