The Cincinnati Bengals haven't had much success on either side of the ball against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, and things could stand to get worse for Zac Taylor's squad. The Bengals announced the team will go the rest of the way without a key member of their defense, having lost star defensive end Trey Hendrickson to a back injury for the remainder of the game.
Injury Update: No. 91 Trey Hendrickson has a back injury. He has been declared out.
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 12, 2021
Hendrickson sustained the injury in the second quarter and went to the locker room early ahead of halftime. After having his back examined, the medical staff deemed the injury too serious for him to return for the second half.
It's been evident nearly immediately since his departure from the field how much of an impact he has. Cincinnati's pass-rush has been near non-existent since the injury forced Hendrickson to the sideline, and Jimmy Garoppolo and the Niners have taken advantage of his absence by adding to their lead.
On the season, Hendrickson has been a force in the trenches, recording a team-high 11.5 sacks on the year. He also has 28 tackles, 19 quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles, serving as a leader for the defensive unit. With the Bengals fighting to stay alive in the game against the Niners, the loss of Hendrickson will sting.
Hendrickson is in his first season with the Bengals, having signed a four-year, $60 million deal with Cincinnati in the offseason. The Florida Atlantic product was a third-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2017, where he played the first four seasons of his NFL career.
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