Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson today was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the team's 19-17 win over Pittsburgh in Week 18.
Hendrickson totaled five tackles, including 3.5 sacks, and added one pass defensed. His 3.5 sacks led all players in Week 18 and tied for the third-most in a game by any player this season.
Two of Hendrickson's sacks came late in the fourth quarter to help Cincinnati close out the road win. He brought down Steelers QB Russell Wilson for a six-yard loss to force a third-and-15 with just under four minutes remaining, then sacked Wilson again for a five-yard loss to force a third-and-12 in the final minute of regulation.
With his efforts in Week 18, Hendrickson ended the regular season with 17.5 sacks, which both led the NFL and tied his career high from the 2023 campaign. This is the first season in his career in which he led the league in sacks. It also is the first time a Bengals player finished a season as the NFL sack leader since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
Hendrickson's 17.5 sacks also tied his 2023 total for the second-most in a season in team history, behind DE Coy Bacon's record 22.0 in 1976. The Bengals tracked the statistic back to 1976 and recognize Bacon as the record-holder.
This is Hendrickson's third career AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. He previously received the honor in Week 3 of the 2022 season and Week 9 of this season. Bengals players have combined for 21 weekly honors (Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams) since the start of the 2021 season, the third-most in the NFL in that span.
