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Trey Hendrickson might not be done with Bengals just yet
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- Trey Hendrickson might not be done with Bengals just yet
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson might've played his last down with the team earlier this season, yes.
But there's nothing guaranteed about the situation.
Hendrickson will have surgery that ends his season after weeks of attempting to rest, rehab and get back out there with Joe Burrow's Bengals amid a playoff pursuit. That caps his participation at seven games on his re-done contract this season and he remains scheduled to hit free agency.
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But a franchise tag, or even a standard contract extension with the Bengals, aren't out of the question.
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It was widely reported the Bengals wouldn't and/or couldn't find a trade partner for Hendrickson at the deadline this year. No wonder: He's now 31 years old, hurt and scheduled for free agency.
Now? Hendrickson might not find a hot market in free agency given his age and contract demands. He could very well need to settle into a prove-it deal or much lower than expected. Perhaps he simply does this in Cincinnati on a potentially winning, familiar team.
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When the Bengals re-did Hendrickson's contract before the season, it didn't include a no-tag clause. So the team has the option to hit him with a franchise tag that checks in at just over $30 million next year. He had a $25 million or so cap hit this year, so it's only a small bump.
Maybe Hendrickson doesn't want a tag despite the market. Maybe the Bengals don't want to deal with another offseason of possible distractions. But the Bengals also don't have a premier No. 1 edge rusher walking through that door via free agency or the draft and the jury very much remains out on Shemar Stewart.
Simple need could force the Bengals and Hendrickson back together. The team needs him to be competitive and mask its drafting woes. And he might need a franchise that likes him to invest amid his age and repeated injury woes.
If nothing else, it's an angle to keep in mind while the national chatter seems to suggest Hendrickson already has both feet out the door in Cincinnati.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Trey Hendrickson might not be done with Bengals just yet
