Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden said he saw a lot of good in Sunday's loss 39-34, but the bad plays were too lethal to overcome.

After yet another contract-related standoff this offseason, Hendrickson agreed to accept a $14 million raise in August to bring his 2025 salary to $30 million. It's possible he has played his last down with the Bengals, as the 31-year-old is set to hit free agency.

This defensive conundrum places the Bengals in a tough position. Commit resources to stop the run, and tight ends get free releases and open looks. Pull defenders back to help in coverage, and suddenly the run defense suffers. It’s a tactical puzzle that Taylor and Golden are desperately trying to solve.

The second year pro was hoping to bounce back after an underwhelming rookie campaign. He finished with four catches for 107 yards last season. The Bengals took Burton in the third round (80th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Just after announcing some rough Tee Higgins injury news and the release of wideout Jermaine Burton, the Bengals revealed the latest update on star defensive end Trey Hendrickson. According to Bengals head coach Zac Taylor,

After previously sitting out in Week 13 due to a concussion, Cincinnati Bengals star Tee Higgins is back in the concussion protocol following Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills.

ESPN's Adam Schefter: "Anybody who watched the (Bengals-Bills) game Sunday ... could see the multiple times in which Tee Higgins hit his head."

NFL Week 15 odds, picks, predictions, TV channel, streaming information for the Sunday football game between Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.

Cincinnati currently has a 3% chance of making the playoffs. If they win their final four games, they'll have a 27% chance of making the postseason according to the New York Times simulator. That means they need to beat the Ravens, Dolphins, Cardinals and Browns. They'll be eliminated from playoff contention with one more loss.