The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t make the playoffs final season.
That was regardless of Joe Burrow posting MVP-caliber numbers and Ja’Marr Chase main all large receivers in receptions, yards and touchdowns.
Their protection was arguably atrocious, and despite the fact that they changed coordinator Lou Anarumo, which may not be sufficient to straighten it out.
That’s why Dan Orlovsky believes they need to know higher than to commerce All-Professional edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who’s sitting out whereas searching for a contract extension.
“With out him, I don’t imagine they’re a playoff workforce,” Orlovsky mentioned on “First Take.”
“With out him, I don’t imagine [the Bengals] are a playoff workforce.”
—@DanOrlovsky7 on Trey Hendrickson 😯 pic.twitter.com/o2cJBGzC30
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 18, 2025
They didn’t make the playoffs even with Hendrickson main the NFL in sacks, so it’s onerous to imagine they’ll be any higher with out him.
They’ve gotten off to a sluggish begin in yearly underneath head coach Zac Taylor, and whereas their protection hasn’t at all times been terrible, it would take quite a bit to repair every little thing that must be mounted.
The entrance workplace appears to be doing every little thing in its energy to make sure Joe Burrow by no means wins the Tremendous Bowl, and if he does, it is going to be regardless of it, not because of it.
The offense can solely take this workforce up to now, but it surely looks as if the group didn’t be taught a lot from final season’s failure.
Issues don’t look good proper now, and dropping Hendrickson may be the ultimate blow.
NEXT: Particulars Emerge About Bengals’ Asking Value For Trey Hendrickson