'Your QB's worst nightmare': What to know about Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson
The Cincinnati Bengals' official Twitter account referred to defensive end Trey Hendrickson earlier this season as "your QB's worst nightmare."
Hendrickson entered the Bengals' NFL Week 18 game against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium with 17 sacks this season, needing two to tie current league-leader TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hendrickson had a half-sack during Sunday's first quarter, boosting his season total to 17.5.
"What Trey Hendrickson is doing right now, it's just not fair," ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said during the broadcast of Cincinnati's Week 3 win against the Los Angeles Rams. "Trey's just too good. He's just too good for a backup tackle (to handle). You can't leave him one-on-one."
What to know about Hendrickson, who has been voted to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons with the Bengals:
Hendrickson has 39.5 of his 59.5 career regular-season sacks as a Bengal.
Hendrickson totaled 20 sacks in the 45 games he played for the New Orleans Saints over his first four NFL seasons.
He's got 39.5 in the 48 games he's played in three seasons for the Bengals.
Hendrickson didn't become a full-time starter for the Saints until 2020, his final season in New Orleans. He had 13.5 sacks in 15 games that season.
Hendrickson had 14 sacks (fifth-most in the NFL) in 2021, his first season in Cincinnati.
Hendrickson was a third-round pick (103rd overall) of the Saints in the 2017 NFL draft.
Hendrickson starred at Florida Atlantic, and had 29.5 sacks and 41 tackles for loss in four seasons with the Owls.
Also selected in the third round in 2017: DT Larry Ogunjobi, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, RB Alvin Kamara, DE Dawuane Smoot, WR Cooper Kupp, C Pat Elflein, G Dan Feeney, LB Alex Anzalone, CB Fabian Moreau, WR Chris Godwin, RB Kareem Hunt, RB D'Onta Foreman, DB Shaquill Griffin, S John Johnson, TE Jonnu Smith and RB James Conner.
The Bengals' 2017 draft class included John Ross (1st round), Joe Mixon (2nd), Jordan Willis (3rd), Carl Lawson (4th) and Jake Elliott (5th).
Cincinnati reached a four-year deal worth $60 million with Hendrickson, then an unrestricted free agent, just hours after Lawson left for the New York Jets.
Hendrickson reached a one-year contract extension in July.
The extension keeps Hendrickson, who turned 29 in December, with the Bengals through the 2025 season.
Hendrickson reportedly received an additional $21 million with the extension: $5 million this season and $16 million in 2025.
Hendrickson made a significant impact during the Bengals' Super Bowl run.
Hendrickson had 3.5 sacks, eight tackles and five QB hits in four playoff games to help the Bengals reach Super Bowl 56.
He also started all three postseason games after the 2022 season. Many thought Orlando Brown, the former Chiefs offensive lineman now with the Bengals, held Hendrickson on a crucial Patrick Mahomes scramble and run late in the AFC title game.
Hendrickson and Brown are two of five current Bengals to earn a Pro Bowl selection.
Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Mixon are the other three current Bengals to receive a Pro Bowl nod.
Hendrickson demonstrated impressive ball-catching skills at the Pro Bowl in February. During a Pro Bowl skills competition in Las Vegas, Hendrickson held four footballs and successfully caught a fifth while fielding a punt.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who is Trey Hendrickson? Cincinnati DE is NFL quarterbacks' nightmare
