With Hendrickson Out, Ossai and Murphy Are Stepping Up-and the Bengals Are Taking Notice
CINCINNATI - When the Bengals lost All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson for the season due to core muscle surgery, it could’ve spelled disaster for a defense already navigating a tough year. But instead of folding, Cincinnati’s young pass rushers have stepped into the spotlight-and they’re making the most of their moment.
With the Bengals sitting at 4-9 and preparing to host the division-leading Ravens this Sunday, it’s clear that Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy are starting to turn the corner. Not just filling Hendrickson’s shoes, but carving out their own roles in a defense that’s still fighting hard.
Let’s start with the numbers: Ossai leads the team with 45 quarterback pressures on the year, and Murphy is right behind him with 31. That’s not just solid production-it’s a sign of two players who are growing into the roles they were drafted to play.
“They’re getting a ton of reps,” head coach Zac Taylor said. “They’re getting a lot of confidence. They’ve completely bought in to what we’re asking them to do.”
And the tape backs that up. In the five games since Hendrickson last suited up, Ossai and Murphy have combined for 42 quarterback pressures-good for nearly 46% of the team’s total in that span.
No other Bengal has even cracked double digits during that stretch. That’s not just filling a void.
That’s taking over.
Ossai, now in his fifth season, has spent most of his career backing up Hendrickson. But this is the first time he’s had a consistent shot at rushing from the left side on third downs-and he’s making it count. His burst off the edge looks sharper, his hand usage more refined, and his confidence is clearly growing with each snap.
“We’ve asked him to do a lot,” defensive coordinator Al Golden said. “He’s been the veteran guy we’ve leaned on to play multiple roles.
And with Trey out, that’s only increased. But he’s executing at a high level right now.”
Then there’s Murphy, the Bengals’ 2023 first-round pick. Early in the season, his impact was minimal.
But something clicked around the bye week. Since then, he’s not only getting to the quarterback-he’s making plays all over the field.
Golden praised Murphy’s physicality in the run game, but it was his performance on Thanksgiving night against Baltimore that really turned heads. In that 32-14 win, Murphy delivered a quarterback hit that led to a key interception by linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. He also made a play that doesn’t show up in the sack column-but says everything about his motor.
Midway through a Ravens drive, Murphy chased down Derrick Henry-yes, that Derrick Henry-40 yards downfield to make a touchdown-saving tackle. That kind of hustle doesn’t just get noticed. It sets a tone.
“Myles is made of the right stuff,” Taylor said. “He’s been working every single day since he got here.
It’s exciting to see that effort pay off. Plays like that-effort plays-those matter.
Even when it’s 40 yards downfield, the team sees that on film. That’s the kind of thing that builds culture.”
Murphy says the difference lately has been mental as much as physical. More aggression.
More confidence. A clearer head.
“I’m putting my best foot forward,” Murphy said. “I’m trying to take that next step every week and keep stepping forward.
It feels good. It allows me to play faster and think clearer.
It quiets your mind down. A lot of good things come with that.”
For a Bengals team that’s been hit hard by injuries and inconsistency, the emergence of Ossai and Murphy is more than just a silver lining-it’s a sign of what could be coming. Hendrickson’s absence has opened the door, and these two are sprinting through it.
And if they keep trending this way, Cincinnati’s pass rush might be in good hands for years to come.