Joe Flacco, Trey Hendrickson both miss practice ahead of Bears game
The Cincinnati Bengals entered the fourth quarter of their Week 8 matchup against the previously winless New York Jets holding a 15-point lead. Joe Flacco led Cincinnati’s offense to a season-high 38 points, showcasing his ability to jump-start a dormant attack. However, the impressive offensive display was not enough, as the Jets came roaring back to secure a 39-38 victory, capitalizing on a late-game collapse by the Bengals’ defense.
Injuries played a significant role in Sunday’s outcome. Star defensive end Trey Hendrickson was forced to exit the game early due to a hip injury and missed the entire second half. Meanwhile, Flacco suffered an AC joint sprain but displayed toughness by finishing the game despite the pain.
As the Bengals look ahead to their Week 9 showdown with the Chicago Bears, the team faces the concerning possibility of losing both Hendrickson and Flacco. Both players appeared on Cincinnati’s injury report with DNP (Did Not Participate) designations for Wednesday’s practice, according to reports from the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway.
Flacco is currently considered day-to-day. Head coach Zac Taylor described his chances of playing against the Bears as “probably 50-50,” per ESPN’s Ben Bay.
Flacco’s arrival in Cincinnati came via a trade with the Cleveland Browns, a move that became necessary after starter Jake Browning struggled in four starts and the team struggled to remain competitive. Since Flacco took over under center, the Bengals’ offense has shown marked improvement, increasing their scoring average from 17 points per game with Browning to 30 points per game with Flacco.
However, with the 40-year-old quarterback’s status uncertain for Week 9, Browning could be called upon to start again. While Flacco has reignited the offense, the overall results have been mixed—Browning went 1-4 as a starter, and Flacco is now 1-3 following the tough loss to the Jets.
Despite his injury, coach Taylor praised Flacco for his grit and leadership in the game against New York. On the other hand, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase expressed frustration with the offense’s inability to capitalize on critical opportunities. Chase, who was targeted 19 times in Week 8, will likely feel further disappointment if Flacco is sidelined and offensive struggles continue.
On the defensive side, Hendrickson’s injury woes persist. The defensive end, who played all 17 games in each of the last two seasons, missed Week 7’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to his ongoing hip issue. Although cleared to play against the Jets, he re-aggravated the injury mid-game and could not return. His absence coincided with a dramatic 23-point fourth-quarter rally by New York.
Adding to the uncertainty, Hendrickson remains the subject of trade rumors as the Bengals approach the November 4 trade deadline. It is unclear whether Cincinnati will part ways with their star pass rusher, but the team may opt to hold him out of the Week 9 contest against the Bears to allow additional recovery time, especially with the Week 10 bye on the horizon.
The Bengals, now sitting at 3-5, face a pivotal stretch of the season, with key players’ health and availability potentially shaping the team’s fortunes in the coming weeks.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/bengals-news-joe-flacco-trey-hendrickson-miss-practice-ahead-bears-game
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