Zac Taylor spent five seasons game planning with Trey Hendrickson. This week, the Cincinnati Bengals coach has to game plan against him. Hendrickson left for Baltimore in March on a four-year, $112 million deal, and Sunday’s game at M&T Bank Stadium is his first shot at his old team.
Taylor didn’t give away much when he was asked Monday how hard it is to scheme against a player he had on his side for years. “He’s a good player, you know. And so again, they’ve got a lot of good players on their defense, and we’ve got to put together a great plan and be able to execute it to give ourselves the best chance to win,” Taylor said after Monday’s practice.
What Trey Hendrickson knows about the Bengals
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Taylor kept it short for a reason. Hendrickson piled up 61 sacks in five seasons in Cincinnati, including 17.5 in both 2023 and 2024, and he’s the only Bengal ever to win an official NFL sack title, according to Bengals.com. He spent those five years practicing against the same protections he’ll see Sunday.
His first year in Baltimore has been slow, mostly because of his hand. Hendrickson broke a finger in the opener, played through it, then missed two games after a procedure. He has two sacks in four games, and he had six pressures in Sunday’s 13-10 loss at Cleveland, according to PFF.
The most interesting matchup could be the one he practiced against for years. Orlando Brown Jr. is set to play his 40th AFC North game, and Bengals.com described his relationship with Hendrickson as a rivalry that turned into a friendship. On the other side is Amarius Mims, who blocks one-on-one more than almost anyone in the league.
Cincinnati rebuilt its front after letting Hendrickson walk. The Bengals traded for Dexter Lawrence and added Boye Mafe, and the moves have changed the defensive line. Mafe posted an 88.0 PFF grade in Miami before the bye.
Taylor did make it clear what decides these division games. “The turnovers is what screams at you. That leads into field position,” he said. Against a pass rusher who spent five years chasing Burrow in practice, a fumble on a strip-sack is the kind of mistake Cincinnati can’t afford.
The Bengals are 3-2 and see an opening in a crowded AFC North, with Baltimore at 4-2. Hendrickson will want this one more than most, and the fans who cheered for him at Paycor Stadium will be watching to see how well their old sack leader still knows the playbook.
More on the Bengals
- Zac Taylor Shares Promising Bryan Cook Update Before Lamar Jackson Showdown
- Zac Taylor Calls the 2021 Win in Baltimore One of the Biggest of His Tenure With the Bengals
- One Fix Bengals Need to Make Heading into Week 7 vs. Ravens
- Zac Taylor Addresses Erick All Jr.’s Role After Tanner Hudson’s Injury
