Sunday will give the Cincinnati Bengals their first shot at lining up against former pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, and one of his Baltimore Ravens teammates is already forecasting a big night.
Linebacker Trenton Simpson didn’t hold back on Wednesday when asked about Hendrickson facing his old team.
“Trey is a great leader, and he’s a guy who flies around,” Simpson said Wednesday. “And man, I am excited to see him against his former team.
The things he’s doing in practice, the way he rushed the passer, and just how he’d get off the ball. And I believe that this game for him is about to be like one of those multiple-sack games.
So I’m calling it. I’m excited to see the celebration he does, so I’m excited.”
Hendrickson has been out for two games this season after breaking a finger and having surgery. If Simpson’s prediction turns into reality, it would be Hendrickson’s first multiple-sack game in Baltimore. He has two sacks so far.
He also flashed last week against the Cleveland Browns, creating steady pressure on a rookie left tackle and finishing with a sack.
How Cincinnati handles him in pass protection will be worth watching. The Bengals may also lean on the run game and test him directly.
That’s been one of the long-running critiques of Hendrickson: teams could run at him and find success. That became even more noticeable as the rest of the defense around him slipped.
There’s no question Hendrickson will come into this one carrying plenty of extra motivation. He made his frustration with the front office very public, and he didn’t shy away from talking about the contract drama that filled his offseason. That has left a sour impression with many fans.
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