Steelers Now
Cincinnati Bengals star defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip) is unlikely to play in Thursday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Hendrickson is listed as questionable after not participating in practice all week.
“My understanding is despite the fact that he is really pushing to play, he’s considered a bit of a long shot,” Rapoport said on Good Morning Football on Thursday. “It’s just such a quick turnaround from Sunday to Thursday. I’m not saying he’s got no chance, it’s not a great chance, but if you know Trey Hendrickson well, he’s absolutely dying to be out on that field, so we’ll see.”
From @GMFB: A look at some key injuries for TNF’s #Steelers–#Bengals, discussing WR Calvin Austin, #Bengals TE Mike Gesicki, and edge Trey Hendrickson, who is pushing to play despite it being a bit of a long-shot. pic.twitter.com/Bjnkq05xwP
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 16, 2025
Cincinnati’s defense, which has already been one of the worst units in the league, is allowing the second-most total yards per game (394.2) and third-most points per game (30.5).
Hendrickson has proven to be one of the defense’s few bright spots, posting back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024, and he looked like he was picking up right where he left off with four sacks, three tackles for loss, eight QB hits and one forced fumble through the first six games this season.
If Hendrickson can’t go, that’s a massive break for the Steelers.
Hendrickson wasn’t the only Bengals player who went down on Sunday, either. Starting tight end Mike Gesicki also left the game with a pectoral injury. He’ll be out for Thursday night’s game. Both of Cincinnati’s starting guards are hurt, and of course, the absence of star quarterback Joe Burrow continues to loom over the team.
The Steelers are heavy favorites over the Bengals. However, short weeks have proven to be difficult to play on for Pittsburgh, especially on the road against division opponents.
While the Steelers are very familiar with the Bengals, so are the Bengals with the Steelers, and neither side is taking this matchup lightly.
“It’s a divisional game, but also, just the rankings we got going on, the standings where we at right now. We know the Steelers are going to try to come in and raw-dog us and kill us,” Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase said. “But we going to be ready for that challenge and we gonna be waiting for it.”
Steelers left tackle Broderick Jones had an impressive performance against Cleveland Browns All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett in Sunday’s 23-9 win. He will have another massive challenge on Thursday night with Hendrickson, if the All-Pro is active.
“This is the NFL, man. It never gets easy. You got good players every week,” Jones said. “You just got to continue to prepare the right way. We’re going to Cincinnati, an away game. We’re going to their home turf. I know they are going to be...
