The Cincinnati Bengals’ window to win a Super Bowl is now after locking up Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase to contract extensions. With the Bengals’ offensive core all set, the questions are on defense and whether or not they’ll have Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson is the threat that Cincinnati have on defense as he’s recorded back-to-back 17.5 sack seasons. However, there’s a major problem, the 31-year-old and the Bengals are at a standoff regarding a contract extension.
If Cincinnati are without Hendrickson for a significant time or don’t have him for the 2025 NFL season, their Super Bowl chances take a major at least that’s what ESPN’s Ryan Clark stated during an appearance on “Get Up” on Friday.
“As bad as a fish needs water. Trust me, when you look at this team last year, Joe Burrow played at a historic clip offensively,” Clark said when asked about how badly does Joe Burrow need Trey Hendrickson to be there if they want to win the Super Bowl.
“Ja’Marr Chase wins the Triple Crown, and this team doesn’t make it to the playoffs. And this team didn’t make it to the playoffs because, in games that Joe Burrow played absolutely out of their mind, the defense played bad enough for them to lose those games.
“As bad as a fish needs water.”
—@Realrclark25 on how bad Joe Burrow needs Trey Hendrickson for the Bengals to win the Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/vs3MexrNnT
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 18, 2025
Clark added that the Bengals need to resolve the situation regarding Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart, who has yet to sign his rookie contract. As a result, right now Cincinnati don’t have their two players who they are counting on to get to the quarterback.
“The one bright spot [in 2024] was Trey Hendrickson—17.5 sacks, constant pressure on the quarterback, a leader on the defensive side of the ball, and also great in the run,” Clark added. “Trey Hendrickson has to be a part of this defense.
“Shemar Stewart has to be a part of this defense and play better on the back end, as they added Al Golden as a defensive coordinator—or the Cincinnati Bengals could be sitting home with the best offense in football, maybe the best quarterback in the world, along with the best wide receiver duo, watching the playoffs with us.”
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