Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson will likely miss the rest of the season after undergoing core muscle surgery later this week, sources told ESPN\'s Adam Schefter on Monday. The procedure is expected to sideline the reigning All-Pro approximately six weeks, effectively ending a tumultuous campaign for the star pass rusher.
Hendrickson has been sidelined for the past five games with an undisclosed issue. Earlier Monday,Zac Taylor said Hendrickson was consulting a specialist about the injury. That meeting indicated surgery would be necessary after rest and rehabilitation failed to resolve the problem, sources told Schefter.
The injury first occurred in Week 6 against Green Bay when Hendrickson suffered what was initially termed a back injury. He did not return for the second half of Cincinnati\'s loss to the Packers. The diagnosis later changed to a hip issue on the team\'s injury report.
Hendrickson attempted to play in Week 8 against the New York Jets but reaggravated the injury in the first half. He has not played or practiced since that contest. On Cincinnati\'s most recent injury report, Hendrickson\'s injury carries a \"hip/pelvis\" designation.
The development caps a difficult year for Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season and earned All-Pro honors. He engaged in a contract dispute during the offseason that included a trade request before reaching an agreement on a $14 million raise.
The Bengals (4-9) have four games remaining and sit three games behind division-leading Pittsburgh. Their playoff hopes have effectively ended, making Hendrickson\'s return unlikely even if his recovery progresses on schedule. His contract will void five days after the upcoming Super Bowl, according to OverTheCap.com.
Via Ben Baby/ESPN