The Cincinnati Bengals took a 15-point lead into the fourth quarter against the previously winless New York Jets in Week 8. Joe Flacco led Cincinnati’s offense to a season-high 38 points. But it was not enough. New York came roaring back for the 39-38 win as the Bengals’ defense collapsed.
Trey Hendrickson was forced to exit Sunday’s matchup with a hip injury and he sat out the second half. Flacco suffered an AC joint sprain but was able to finish the game. Now the Bengals are facing the unsettling prospect of losing both players for Week 9’s showdown with the Chicago Bears.
Both Flacco and Hendrickson landed on Cincinnati's injury report, earning DNP tags for Wednesday, per the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway. Flacco is considered day-to-day and head coach Zac Taylor labeled his Week 9 availability as “probably 50-50,” per Ben Bay of ESPN.
Bengals coach deems Joe Flacco “50-50” for Week 9 vs. Bears
The Bengals landed Flacco in a trade with the Cleveland Browns after Jake Browning struggled through four starts in place of an injured Joe Burrow. Flacco became Cincinnati’s savior by jumpstarting a dormant offense.
The Bengals went from averaging 17 points per game with Browning to 30 points per contest with Flacco. But with the 40-year-old quarterback questionable for Sunday, Browning could once again be under center for Cincy.
While the Bengals’ have been more competitive with Flacco at the helm, the results have largely been the same. Browning went 1-4 as the starter. And Flacco is now 1-3 after the gut-punch loss to the Jets.
The 18th-year veteran played through a sprain in his throwing shoulder Sunday and still led six scoring drives. But Ja’Marr Chase criticized the offense for failing to capitalize on opportunities. Chase, who was targeted 19 times Sunday, will likely be even less enthusiastic if Flacco is forced to sit against the Bears.
Hendrickson, who played all 17 games each of the last two seasons, was forced to miss Week 7’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was cleared to play against the Jets but re-aggravated his hip injury mid game and was ruled out. His absence coincided with New York’s comeback, which included a 23-point fourth quarter.
Henderson remains the subject of trade rumors. It’s unclear if the 3-5 Bengals will deal the star defensive end by the November 4 deadline. However, if Hendrickson misses Sunday’s matchup with the Bears he'll have an extra week to heal with Cincinnati's bye coming in Week 10.
