Latest On Bengals, Joe Burrow
Nearing the end of an injury-wrecked 2025 campaign, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will miss out on postseason play for the third year in a row. It’s not what he or the Bengals envisioned when they won the AFC in 2021 and followed it up with a second straight conference title game appearance the next season.
A toe injury kept Burrow out for nine games earlier this season. Since he returned in Week 13, questions about Burrow’s future in Cincinnati have persisted.
Burrow shut down the possibility of an Andrew Luck-esque early retirement or a trade request a couple of weeks ago. The 29-year-old added last week that he expects to remain with the Bengals in 2026. Indeed, there’s no indication Burrow wants out of Cincinnati, per Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
“I truly think he wants to be here,” a team source told Fowler.
Assuming that’s the case, the Bengals will hope for a healthier season from Burrow in 2026. That alone would give them a far better chance to contend, but it may not be enough without significant improvements elsewhere. Consider that in 2024, Burrow’s lone 17-game season to date, the Bengals only managed nine wins despite brilliant production from the two-time Pro Bowler.
The Bengals are 4-2 in Burrow’s starts this year, but he reportedly believes the team has to “play perfect” to win. A defense that ranks last in the NFL in points allowed and 31st in yardage surrendered has been a major problem. The expected departure of defensive end Trey Hendrickson in free agency would only add to the Bengals’ issues on that side of the ball.
Burrow endorsed a Hendrickson extension last spring, but a multiyear pact didn’t come together. After a contentious battle, the Bengals agreed to increase Hendrickson’s 2025 salary from $16MM to $30MM. He only played seven games this year before undergoing season-ending core muscle surgery.
The Bengals are on track to enter the offseason with a projected $110MM in cap space (via Zak Koeppel of NFL.com). That could help the team retain Hendrickson if the two sides are open to continuing their relationship. Regardless, the Bengals will have plenty of money and a high first-round draft pick to play with as they aim to better their roster around their franchise signal-caller.
If the Bengals are in a similar spot a year from now, Burrow’s frustration could grow, but league executives Fowler has spoken with don’t expect them to ever consider trading him. As things stand, Burrow is in line to remain in Cincinnati through 2029 on the five-year, $275MM extension he signed in 2023.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/25
NFL minor moves this Christmas Eve:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: DE L.J. Collier
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return from IR: CB Clark Phillips
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated for return from IR: C Matt Lee
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Steelers’ practice squad: G Kendrick Green
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: CB Corey Ballentine
- Elevated: LB Justin Barron
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OL Kingsley Eguakun, TE Giovanni Ricci
Indianapolis Colts
- Designated for return from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: S Terrell Edmunds, WR Shedrick Jackson
Los Angeles Rams
- Designated for return from IR: CB Roger McCreary
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: G Henry Byrd
- Elevated: LB Sione Takitaki
- Placed on IR: TE Gavin Bartholomew, C Ryan Kelly
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers (from Rams): S Chris Smith
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: QB Sam Hartman
- Elevated: DT Ricky Barber, WR River Cracraft
A month after coming off injured reserve, Kelly is headed right back to the injured list. Kelly was initially placed on IR after two concussions limited him to only three games in the early stages of the season. It is unfortunately a third concussion this season — and the sixth of his career — that will end his 2025 campaign. This will conclude the first half of Kelly’s two-year deal with the Vikings, who will once again turn to backup Michael Jurgens in his absence.
Also in Minnesota, Byrd’s contract to join the 53-man roster will not just be a two-week deal. According to a post from the X account of his agency, JL Sports, Byrd is joining the active roster on a two-year contract.
In Detroit, these will be the third and final standard gameday elevations for Eguakun and Ricci. If the Lions want to see them in the regular season finale, they will need to sign them to the 53-man roster. That’s what Dallas is doing with Ballentine, who exhausted his third elevation last week.
Coaching Notes: Johnson, Bengals, Lions, Vikings, Bills, Buccaneers
Both Zac Taylor and Ben Johnson were on the Dolphins’ staff when Dan Campbell served as Miami’s interim HC in 2015. That unremarkable season launched two HC careers, with Taylor seeing his first OC work (as the Dolphins’ interim play-caller) and Johnson being retained by Adam Gase in 2016. After the Dolphins fired Gase two years later, Johnson was out of work. The Bengals had just hired Taylor, who said he made an effort to hire the young assistant. Taylor indicated multiple runs at Johnson, who was tied to Matt Patricia‘s Lions staff from 2019-20.
“He was out [of coaching] and we didn’t have any openings on offense,” Taylor said, via SI.com’s James Rapien. “After the ’20 season probably because I made a lot of changes after the ’20 season. So at the end of the ’20 season we didn’t have our QCs on defense. We did not have an offensive opening, so I just wanted to get him on the staff and Lou (Anarumo) knew him.”
Anarumo, the Bengals’ six-year DC, also coached with Johnson in Miami. It is certainly interesting the Bengals viewed Johnson highly enough they offered him a defensive position, but the rising staffer settled in fine post-Miami. The Lions used him as an offensive quality control assistant in 2019 and shifted him to tight ends coach before Patricia’s ouster. Campbell’s familiarity with Johnson began the assistant’s surge in earnest by 2021, even though Johnson did not take over as OC for another year.
Shifting to more current coaching news, here is the latest ahead of the 2026 carousel:
- Campbell’s staff is losing a position coach early. Tight ends coach Tyler Roehl is leaving Detroit for Ames, Iowa. Iowa State has hired Roehl as its new offensive coordinator, the Big 12 school announced. The Detroit News’ Rich Silva reported this was likely to happen, and the university has confirmed Roehl is returning to Iowa. The Lions hired Roehl earlier this year; he had previously served as an Iowa State staffer under Matt Campbell. Despite Penn State hiring Campbell, Roehl will hold a key position under his replacement (Jimmy Rogers). Roehl, a Cyclones staffer from 2022-24, will stay on to finish the Lions’ season before heading back to the college ranks.
- A Bills assistant will make a similar move. Wyoming is hiring Christian Taylor as its next OC, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Bills hired Taylor as a quality control staffer in 2024. Taylor came to Buffalo after four seasons as William & Mary’s OC; prior to that, he was in charge of the offense at the University of San Diego.
- The Vikings are losing a defensive assistant to the college ranks, seeing safeties coach Michael Hutchings set to become Cal’s next DC, veteran insider Jordan Schultz notes. Brian Flores hired Hutchings upon arriving in Minnesota in 2023. Hutchings, 30, had coached only at the college level before joining the Vikings’ staff. This created the interesting dynamic of Hutchings coaching Harrison Smith, who is six years his senior. He also oversaw the development of Camryn Bynum, who commanded a $15MM-per-year Colts contract in free agency this offseason.
- Cal is looking to the NFC for both its coordinator gigs, hiring Buccaneers assistant QBs coach Jordan Somerville as its OC, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Like Hutchings, Somerville had only coached at the college level before landing in the NFL in 2023. Somerville has brought some continuity to a Bucs staff that has lost its OC to HC jobs in back-to-back years, having been in the assistant QBs coach role throughout his Tampa stay. But the former Oregon assistant will head to Cal, where Ron Rivera remains as the program’s GM.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Several dominoes have fallen so far in Week 16 with respect to the NFL’s playoff picture. The Cowboys have been eliminated while the Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, Eagles and 49ers have locked in a postseason berth.
The final two weeks of the campaign will determine the remaining playoff spots, but they will also sort out the top of the draft order. Six teams remain within striking distance of the No. 1 pick, although the Titans’ win on Sunday greatly weakened their chances of landing the top selection for the second year in a row. One contest in particular will be worth monitoring next week with respect to draft positioning.
The Giants and Raiders each sport a record of 2-13. They will play each other in Week 17, meaning the loser of that contest will have the inside track for the No. 1 pick. New York already has a head coaching vacancy while Pete Carroll is in danger of going one-and-done in Vegas. Plenty of incentive for winning will exist for Carroll in particular, but the outcome of that game will have major implications on the draft order.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-13)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
- Cleveland Browns (3-12)
- New York Jets (3-12)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
- Tennessee Titans (3-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-11)
- New Orleans Saints (5-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
- Miami Dolphins (6-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
- Detroit Lions (8-7)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Chicago Bears (11-4)
- New England Patriots (12-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
Joe Burrow Comments Aimed At Applying Pressure On Bengals?
The Bengals are not expected to fire Zac Taylor or de facto GM Duke Tobin. A second Taylor extension (in 2023) is believed to have taken place, moving his contract through the 2027 season. That offers the former Super Bowl coach some protection, as does the Bengals’ conservative way of doing business. But the team may have a Joe Burrow problem on its hands.
Cincinnati is set to miss the playoffs for the third straight season. That occurring in Burrow’s prime is an indictment of the team’s roster, though Burrow injuries in 2023 and ’25 have contributed heavily to the team’s struggles since the 2022 AFC championship game. Still, the 2024 season showed the burden Burrow has needed to carry. With defensive improvement not exactly coming this season, the Bengals did not reenter the AFC North race when their superstar quarterback came off IR last month.
[RELATED: Bengals Rejected Dolphins’ Four-First-Rounder Offer In 2020]
The sixth-year quarterback’s comments about his happiness (or lack thereof) playing football drew leaguewide attention, and while Burrow stopped short of saying he expected to be elsewhere in 2026, he did not do the same regarding a post-Cincinnati career chapter when asked that specific question. In Burrow’s mind, the Bengals have to “play perfect” to win, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport offers, noting the passer’s comments this week look to be aimed at applying some pressure on the organization.
Burrow went to this well last year, launching a campaign for the team to keep Tee Higgins despite previous rumors pointing the high-end No. 2 wide receiver out of town. Burrow also campaigned for Trey Hendrickson to be paid, but the All-Pro defensive end — after an injury-marred season — is likely to walk in free agency.
Powerful players applying pressure on teams is not new, of course. Cavaliers and Lakers fans have seen LeBron James operate this way over the past decade, but Burrow does not have a contract set to expire now or in the near future to use as leverage. He signed a five-year, $275MM Bengals extension that runs through the 2029 season. Cincinnati can hold this over its franchise centerpiece, though the team does have a history with a player effectively forcing his way out despite being contracted long term.
Carson Palmer chose the nuclear option in 2011, staging a quasi-retirement as a way to have the Bengals trade him. An eight-year Bengal, Palmer became frustrated with the franchise’s thriftiness and eventually got his way when the Raiders — who lost then-starter Jason Campbell to injury before the 2011 trade deadline — gave up first- and second-round picks for the disgruntled QB. Palmer did not pan out with the Raiders, finding his form later with the Cardinals, but the Bengals landed starters Dre Kirkpatrick and Giovani Bernard with the picks while Andy Dalton performed well enough for several seasons. This reality playing out again, however, would be damning for the franchise; that would stand to make Burrow’s tactics worth monitoring closely.
The Bengals are known to play hardball with irritated players, as trade requests — like those from Higgins and Jonah Williams, to name two recent examples — are routinely batted down. Cincinnati brass can also point to listening to Burrow on Higgins, who joined Ja’Marr Chase in signing a lucrative extension this past offseason, and being active in free agency — far more so compared to their spending during Palmer and Dalton’s tenures — with Burrow in town.
Burrow, 29, can also point to shortcomings. The Bengals saw the 2020 No. 1 pick put up MVP-caliber numbers last season, returning from a major wrist injury, only to see the team go 9-8 and miss the playoffs. Taylor’s teams, this season’s 2-0 start notwithstanding, also started 0-2 in 2022, ’23 and ’24 with Burrow at the helm. Cincy has not fielded an above-average defense since 2022, with Al Golden not turning that unit around post-Lou Anarumo this year, and its offensive lines have not been confused with upper-crust units during Burrow’s career.
Burrow disillusionment comes as Josh Allen is set to lead the Bills to their seventh straight playoff field. Lamar Jackson may reach his seventh career postseason as well. Patrick Mahomes played in seven straight AFC championship games before the Chiefs’ disappointing 2025 season. Meanwhile, the Broncos and Patriots have rebuilt their operations behind younger quarterbacks. Those teams join the Chargers as status quo challengers to have emerged during the Bengals’ downturn.
How Burrow proceeds will be a defining 2026 offseason storyline, as numerous clubs would line up monster offers if he seriously pursued a Palmer-like path. We are still a ways away from that, it appears, but Burrow putting pressure on the Bengals does represent another stage in this relationship; the extension years have not gone well. A franchise not known to cave on player demands did appear to do so after Burrow pushed for Higgins to stay; will there be more specific Burrow passion projects in this coming offseason?
Dolphins Coveted Joe Burrow In 2020, Offered Bengals Four First-Rounders For No. 1 Pick
The Dolphins entered the 2020 NFL Draft in need of a franchise quarterback. Joe Burrow headlined the class after a national championship- and Heisman Trophy-winning season at LSU in 2019. With Burrow coming off an incredible 60-touchdown campaign, the Dolphins showed interest in moving up from the fifth spot to land him. However, the Bengals stayed put at No. 1 and selected Burrow.
Four picks after Burrow went off the board, the Dolphins settled for former Alabama signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa. It turns out they were extremely aggressive in trying to nab Burrow first.
Armed with three first-rounders in 2020 to go with an extra first in 2021, the Dolphins offered the Bengals a package of four firsts for the No. 1 pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. They’d have drafted Burrow had Cincinnati signed off on the trade. However, the Bengals were committed enough to Burrow that they didn’t entertain the proposal, according to Schefter.
We heard a while back the Dolphins made an aggressive push to acquire the 2020 top pick from the Bengals. Brian Flores‘ tanking allegation surrounded the 2019 Miami season. While the NFL did not punish Stephen Ross in connection with Flores’ accusation, the Dolphins fielded a bad roster as they retooled that year. Flores guiding the team to a 5-11 record scuttled any hopes of obtaining the No. 1 pick. Burrow had also surged past Tagovailoa on draft boards thanks to his record-setting season, but the Bengals’ 2-14 record in Zac Taylor‘s debut season gave them access to the Ohio native-turned-LSU superstar.
This is, however, the first we have heard that a four-first-rounder offer was on the table. This would have meant Cincinnati sliding from No. 1 to No. 5 and also obtaining the Nos. 18 and 26 choices — to go with a 2021 first. The Dolphins had two firsts in 2021 thanks to their August 2019 Laremy Tunsil blockbuster.
Miami acquired the 2020 No. 18 pick via the September 2019 Minkah Fitzpatrick trade and No. 26 in the Tunsil swap. The Dolphins ended up trading down four spots from No. 26, giving the Packers Jordan Love access. In the end, Miami ended up with Tagovailoa — who was coming off a season-ending hip injury — to go with Austin Jackson and Noah Igbinoghene.
A half-decade later, Tagovailoa’s tenure in Miami may be on the verge of ending. The 27-year-old had success earlier in his career, even earning a four-year, $212.4MM extension in July 2024, but he’ll serve in a third-string role against the Burrow-led Bengals on Sunday. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel decided earlier this week to bench Tagovailoa for seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers.
Even though Tagovailoa’s owed a guaranteed $54MM in 2026, Miami is “prepared” to cut ties with him in the offseason, per Schefter. The Dolphins will likely part with him before $3MM of his 2027 salary becomes guaranteed on March 15.
Schefter points to the possibility of a trade in which the Dolphins offer a team draft compensation and pay “a heavy portion” of Tagovailoa’s contract. Tagovailoa would have to take a pay cut to facilitate a trade, notes Schefter, who adds it’s likely he’d have a say in where he goes next.
If the Dolphins are unable to execute a trade, it seems they’ll release Tagovailoa at the cost of a record $99MM in dead money. They’d spread that total over two seasons, leaving Tagovailoa to search for another team on the open market.
Like Tagovailoa, Burrow earned a massive raise earlier in his career. The Bengals gave him a five-year, $275MM extension in September 2023. Burrow, who nearly led the Bengals to a win over the Rams in Super Bowl LVI, was coming off back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances at the time.
The Bengals haven’t returned to the playoffs since they locked up Burrow, though the two-time Pro Bowler remains among the league’s premier passers when healthy. Injuries have been a frequent occurrence during his career, however, including a nine-game absence this year. He returned from a toe injury in Week 13, but with two losses in three games since then, the Bengals are 4-10 and out of contention.
While Burrow is frustrated with the Bengals’ struggles, it doesn’t appear he’ll join Tagovailoa on the market of available QBs in the offseason. Burrow expects to remain in Cincinnati in 2026.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL, including gameday elevations for tomorrow’s Week 16 slate:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: CB C.J. Henderson
- Waived: WR/KR Jamal Agnew
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, OLB Khalid Kareem
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Josh Tupou, LB William Kwenkeu
- Placed on IR: LB Teddye Buchanan (story)
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: WR Mecole Hardman
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons, OL Saahdiq Charles
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross, CB Bralyn Lux
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: QB Sam Ehlinger, S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OL Kingsley Eguakun, TE Giovanni Ricci
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Marlon Davidson, CB Alijah Huzzie
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: S Marcus Williams, G Branson Taylor
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: CB Ethan Robinson
- Placed on IR: DB Elijah Campbell
- Elevated: OL Kion Smith, WR Theo Wease
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: CB Dwight McGlothern
- Elevated: LB Sione Takitaki
New York Giants
- DT Elijah Chatman, K Ben Sauls
New York Jets
- Elevated: DB Tre Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: T Easton Kilty, TE Moliki Matavao
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB Daryl Porter Jr., T Jack Driscoll
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Martin
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: DT Cam Horsley
- Waived: DT Shy Tuttle
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
Agnew’s time in Atlanta has come to an end after 11 appearances with his third career team. The veteran did not see any usage on offense, but he handled 45 total returns between kickoffs and punts this season. Agnew totaled 855 yards in that capacity, but he will now hit the waiver wire. Provided he clears, the 30-year-old will become a free agent.
The same is true of Tuttle. A veteran of 105 games, he has made just one start so far this season. Tuttle has only handled a 25% snap share on defense, so he is unlikely to generate much interest as a free agent. Nevertheless, a depth role could await him on a contender down the stretch.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Jammie Robinson
- Placed on IR: WR KhaDarel Hodge
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: OL Chase Lundt
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: DL Brenton Cox Jr.
- Placed on IR: RB MarShawn Lloyd (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Designated for return from IR: LB Jalen McLeod
Las Vegas Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Steelers): DT Brodric Martin
- Waived: DE Jahfari Harvey
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: K Charlie Smyth
- Placed on IR: WR Devaughn Vele
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: TE E.J. Jenkins, CB Brandon Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: S J.T. Gray
- Waived: LB Nick Jackson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: TE Lawrence Cager
Cox will give the Packers another pass-rushing option after they lost superstar Micah Parsons to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 15. An undrafted pickup in 2023, Cox impressed last season with five tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble in just seven games. However, he hasn’t factored in this year after suffering a groin injury in the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Lions. Now returning from a 13-game absence, Cox could have an opportunity to make an impact down the stretch.
Vele, a seventh-round pick a year ago, racked up 41 catches, 475 yards, and three touchdowns during a 13-game rookie season in Denver. The Broncos sold high on the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder in late August, shipping him to the Saints for a 2026 fourth-rounder and a 2027 seventh-rounder.
Vele, who’s now dealing with a shoulder injury, will wrap up his first season in New Orleans with 25 receptions, 293 yards, and two scores in 13 contests. While those are underwhelming numbers, Vele was far more productive in recent weeks. He combined for 19 grabs, 239 yards, and a TD in his last four games of the year.
Bengals, Trey Hendrickson Headed For Offseason Split?
Having undergone core muscle surgery earlier this month, Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson will not return in 2025. Hendrickson hasn’t taken the field since a Week 8 loss to the Jets. With a trip to free agency looming in the offseason, Hendrickson has likely played his last game with the organization, according to Albert Breer of SI.com.
Hendrickson spent the first four seasons of his career with the Saints before exiting in free agency for the Bengals’ four-year, $60MM offer March 2021. The former third-round pick from Florida Atlantic scored that payday on the heels of a breakout season in which he tallied 13.5 sacks. Looking back, that was the beginning of a years-long run of elite production.
Since leaving New Orleans for Cincinnati, Hendrickson has collected 61 sacks – including a league-best 35 from 2023-24 – in 72 games. Hendrickson made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four years as a Bengal. He also helped the Bengals to a pair of AFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance in his first two years in their uniform.
The Bengals awarded Hendrickson a one-year extension entering 2023, keeping him under wraps through this season, but that wasn’t the last transaction between the two. Hendrickson sought a new multiyear pact after last season, though he reportedly turned down a three-year, $95MM offer. The Bengals’ rejected proposal did not include any guaranteed money after the first year of the deal.
After a drawn-out battle, the Bengals and Hendrickson finally agreed to a revised contract for this season in late August. Hendrickson had been in line to earn $16MM, but Cincinnati almost doubled that amount in raising his salary to $30MM. Frustration increased on both sides during negotiations, per Breer. The Bengals were sick of the “drama” surrounding Hendrickson, who was “tired of having to fight for a contract correction,” Breer writes.
With Hendrickson having made his final appearance of the season on Oct. 26, it’s fair to say the Bengals’ investment didn’t turn out as hoped. The 31-year-old remained a formidable pass-rushing presence with 23 pressures and four sacks in seven games, but his long-term absence has contributed to a miserable campaign for the Bengals. At 4-10, they’re assured of missing the playoffs for the third year in a row.
Regardless of whether de facto general manager Duke Tobin stays in place, deciding how to proceed with Hendrickson will again be a key offseason task for the organization. If a multiyear arrangement isn’t in store, the Bengals could slap the $35MM franchise tag on Hendrickson and either keep him for another season or flip him elsewhere. Hendrickson drew plenty of interest leading up to the Nov. 4 trade deadline, but nobody bit on the Bengals’ asking price of a second-round pick. He’s still a Bengal a month and a half later, though it appears their relationship is nearing an end.
Bengals To Activate Shemar Stewart From IR
While the Bengals are already eliminated from postseason contention, the team will be getting some defensive reinforcement for the stretch run. According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, defensive end Shemar Stewart will be activated from injured reserve for this weekend’s game against the Dolphins.
[RELATED: Bengals Designate Shemar Stewart To Return From IR]
Stewart returned to practice earlier this month but wasn’t activated in time for Week 15. The first-round pick apparently made enough progress at practice over the past few days to earn his activation from injured reserve.
The defensive end suffered a knee injury back in Week 9 that ended up shelving him for more than a month. According to Baby, Stewart suffered a torn PCL, although it wasn’t severe enough to require surgery. The Texas A&M product’s rookie campaign has been derailed by injuries. He missed a chunk of games early in the season thanks to an ankle sprain, and after returning for three contests, he was sidelined again with the PCL injury.
This has been a tumultuous season overall for Stewart, who was engaged in a publicized dispute over his rookie contract that kept him off the field for offseason workouts and the first week of training camp. Considered a raw prospect coming out of college, the absences have had a natural impact on the player’s on-field performance. In five games this season, Stewart has been limited to only six stops and a QB hit. Still, the edge rusher is confident he can make a mark on the organization before the 2025 campaign is through.
“I just want to go out there and make an impact — whether it’s doing my job or all the extraordinary stats,” Stewart said today (via Baby).
The Bengals have been without Trey Hendrickson for the past month-plus, opening the door for Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy to earn the bulk of the snaps at defensive end. That duo will likely continue to lead the depth chart even with Stewart back on the field, but the rookie should earn more than a cameo on defense over the season’s final few weeks.