Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals. Trey Hendrickson vs. his former team. That’s the biggest storyline of this Week 7 matchup, and many are labeling it as a revenge game.
And rightfully so. Hendrickson didn’t have the best end in Cincinnati. He never got the money he wanted. The veteran pass rusher requested a trade in 2024, was disgruntled with the front office in 2025, and entered a holdout that became a hold-in during training camp.
That multi-year saga led to an obvious exit last offseason, and to him landing in Charm City on a four-year, $112 million contract.
Staying in the AFC North gives Hendrickson two shots at the Bengals for the next four years, and he’ll get his first taste in Week 7.
It’s the perfect time to send a painful message.
Trey Hendrickson could get revenge in Baltimore Ravens’ Week 7 clash with Bengals
Everyone’s eager to see what Trey Hendrickson will do on Sunday. Revenge games are always fun, and this one has plenty of juice. Heck, even Hendrickson’s teammates are excited to see what he’ll do.
Trenton Simpson made the most emphatic comments on Wednesday. He called his shot: a multi-sack game for Hendrickson.
“Trey’s a great leader. He’s a guy who flies around, and man, I am excited to see him against his former team,” Simpson said. “I believe that this game is about to be one of those ones. Like a multiple sack game. I’m calling it. I’m excited to see the celebration he does.”
Two or more sacks? That’d be Hendrickson’s biggest game of his young Ravens career. He’s had a strong start — 2 sacks and 20 pressures in four games have made opposing offensive lines sweat, much of it while playing injured.
As he continues to recover from his finger surgery, he has a chance to make a statement against Cincinnati.
The Bengals are better in pass protection this year, but not free from struggles. They’ve posted a 46% pass-block win rate, which ranks 24th in the NFL. While right tackle Amarius Mims is playing like one of, if not the best tackle in the league, that won’t be Hendrickson’s matchup. Orlando Brown Jr. will be.
Brown has been inconsistent in 2026. He’s registered a 61.3 overall grade (53rd), per Pro Football Focus, allowing 12 pressures, 3 sacks, and 5 QB hits.
Hendrickson could truly feast on him. He’s a right-side pass rusher, and he’s been a maniac off that side. With over 300 career pressures and 83 career sacks, he’s the kind of player who can take over a game if you let him. If you do, wish that quarterback good luck.
Ravens' defensive line could free up even more opportunities for Hendrickson
It’ll also be easier with a three-man wrecking crew on the interior, freeing up space for Hendrickson.
Nnamdi Madubuike demands as much attention as anyone. He doesn’t look like a player who recently returned from a year-long absence from a neck injury; he looks like the Pro Bowler he was in 2023 and 2024. In four games, the 28-year-old is already up to 16 pressures.
Then there are two massive humans eating blocks: Travis Jones and Calais Campbell. Jones eats double teams for breakfast, while Campbell is a veteran who knows how to win his battles and free up opportunities for others. His 6-foot-8, 307-pound frame makes that easy.
Campbell is entering Sunday’s game with the mentality to give Hendrickson a boost, too.
“I would like to put [Hendrickson] in position to make some plays,” Campbell said. “I would like for him to have a day where [the Bengals] miss him. That’s kind of what you want when you’re a player in this league, and you go to play against your old team.”
With guys like that in his corner, Week 7 could be a whole lot easier for Hendrickson. The motivation is already there, but it sounds like he’s not the only one ready to feed off it. The whole team is.
The Bengals still have a tough offense to stop; however, the pieces are clearly in place for Hendrickson to make a statement. The stage is his to let loose.
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