Ossai is hoping to have Hendrickson as his running mate on the edges of the defensive line this season.
With the positive news that the Cincinnati Bengals and All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson have resumed contract talks, it’s a good time to showcase some strong praise from one of Hendrickson’s teammates.
Bengals fifth-year edge rusher Joseph Ossai, who signed a contract extension himself this offseason, recently explained why he is really hoping to have Hendrickson as his running mate on the edges of the defensive line once again this season.
“When Trey lines up in front of you with his slightly tinted face mask and his no-gloves and his long sleeve and tights and his black shoes strapped all the way, you know you got war,” Ossai said. “The whole game. The whole game, you know you have war.”
When I heard that description of Hendrickson from Ossai on the Bengals Booth Podcast, I was ready to run through a brick wall. It makes me even more hopeful that Hendrickson and the Bengals front office get a contract extension done, preferably before Training Camp.
The Bengals’ defense, and overall team, is better with Hendrickson on it. He doesn’t have 35 sacks over the last two seasons for no reason. It’s because Hendrickson is as relentless a player as there is in the NFL.
Joe Burrow lobbied for Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Mike Gesicki, and Hendrickson to get contract extensions this offseason. Three of the four players have gotten their extensions. Hendrickson is the only player left to get one. It’s so close to making Burrow’s vision a reality. The front office just needs to find a way with Hendrickson to get a deal done.