Hendrickson recently requested to be traded from Cincinnati, a league source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Per Schefter, Hendrickson -- who is under contract for $15 million in 2024 and is on the books through 2025 -- is looking for more long-term security than the Bengals have been willing to offer to this point. The 29-year-old is coming of a 2023 campaign in which he recorded 43 tackles and made a major impact as a pass rusher by racking up a career-high 17.5 sacks over 17 games.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Bouncing back from ankle surgery
Rotowire
Hubbard underwent an offseason procedure to address an ankle injury that he dealt with last season, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Per the report, Hubbard -- who missed two regular-season games in 2023 due to a right ankle issue -- indicated that he had a complete deltoid reconstruction in his ankle as well as a TightRope procedure. Now that the defensive end has had his ankle repaired, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reported Monday that Hubbard says he's a few weeks ahead of schedule in his recovery and believes that he'll be ready for training camp.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Joe Bachie: Re-ups with Cincy
Rotowire
The Bengals re-signed Bachie to a one-year contract Monday.
Bachie entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, but he's now set to return to Cincinnati for a fourth straight campaign. He contributed almost exclusively on special teams last year across 16 regular-season games.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Nick Scott: Headed to Carolina
Rotowire
The Panthers signed Scott on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The veteran safety spent last season with Cincinnati after playing the first four years of his career with the Rams, and he's now headed to Carolina. During the Bengals' 2023 campaign, Scott tallied 57 total tackles, including one tackle for loss, across 17 outings. Carolina has now added two safeties in Scott and Jordan Fuller this offseason, and the former is expected to compete for a depth role in the Panthers' secondary.
... See More... See Less
Lions' DJ Reader: Headed to Detroit
Rotowire
The Lions signed Reader (quadriceps) to a two-year deal Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Reader's 2023 campaign was cut short due to a torn quadriceps, but it seems as if he's moved past the issue and now signed with the Lions. The 29-year-old defensive tackle was putting up solid numbers before he sustained his injury, recording 34 total tackles, including 1.0 sack and an additional tackle for loss across 14 appearances. Reader is known as one of the best run-stoppers in the entire NFL and he's expected to help improve a Lions' defensive line that already ranked second in rush yards allowed per game (91.1 yards) in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Vonn Bell: Returns to Cincy
Rotowire
Bell signed a one-year contract with the Bengals on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Bell played three seasons with Cincinnati before a one-year stay in Carolina, which saw him record 69 combined tackles and an interception in 2023 across 13 contests. The 29-year-old was released by the Panthers on Wednesday and agreed to take the minimum salary with the Bengals, as he's still getting $6 million guaranteed from his former team.
... See More... See Less
Nick Scott: Done in Cincy after one year
Rotowire
Scott will be released by the Bengals, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Scott signed a three-year contract with the Bengals in the 2023 offseason but lost his starting strong safety role to Jordan Battle during the season. Rather than keep Scott on as a backup, the Bengals have decided to release the former Rams safety with two years left on his deal. After compiling 190 tackles and four interceptions between the Rams and Bengals over the past three seasons, Scott will likely receive some interest as a free agent.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Akeem Davis-Gaither: Staying in Cincinnati
Rotowire
Davis-Gaither and the Bengals agreed on a one-year, $3 million contract Monday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Davis-Gaither had a down year in 2023, recording a career-low 17 tackles while appearing in 13 games. The linebacker will now look to increase his production in 2024, sticking with the team that selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
... See More... See Less
Titans' Chidobe Awuzie: Agrees to deal with Titans
Rotowire
Tennessee plans to sign Awuzie to a three-year contract, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Awuzie immediately projects as the top cornerback for a Titans defense that was middling against the pass in 2023. Over 15 games in 2023, he posted 57 tackles (43 solo) and six passes defensed.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Myles Murphy: Quiet rookie season
Rotowire
Murphy tallied 20 tackles (10 solo) and three sacks across 17 regular-season games with the Bengals in 2023.
Murphy, a 2023 first-round pick, never stepped into a starting role as a rookie and didn't handle more than 50 percent of defensive snaps in a single game until Week 16. The former Clemson standout is young, having just turned 22, and he boasts 6-foot-5, 268-pound size plus rare athleticism, so there's still reason to be optimistic about his prospects after another offseason of development. Still, there's also no guarantee he'll be ready to start as a sophomore, making the defensive line a position of need for Cincinnati this offseason.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' DJ Turner: Solid rookie campaign
Rotowire
Turner racked up 50 tackles (40 solo), one sack, seven pass breakups and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season games with the Bengals in 2023.
Turner, a 2023 second-round pick, claimed a starting role in Cincinnati's secondary by Week 12 of his rookie season after playing third-down snaps right off the bat. Despite being somewhat undersized, Turner's speed and ability to quickly change direction allowed him to handle coverage assignments, offering room for optimism that he could develop into a true standout cornerback.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Cam Taylor-Britt: Snags four INTs in 2023
Rotowire
Taylor-Britt recorded 50 tackles (40 solo), 11 pass breakups, four interceptions (one pick-six) and one forced fumble across 12 regular-season appearances with the Bengals in 2023.
Taylor-Britt logged a five-game stint on IR due to a quad injury, but when healthy he played close to an every-down role in Cincinnati's secondary. While Taylor-Britt hasn't proven to be the most reliable option in coverage, he did take a step forward as a playmaker after having finished his 10-game rookie season without a single takeaway. Now heading into the third year of his rookie deal, Taylor-Britt figures to remain a key factor in the Bengals' secondary.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' B.J. Hill: Makes two interceptions in 2023
Rotowire
Hill racked up 51 tackles (26 solo), 4.5 sacks, five pass breakups, two interceptions and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season games in 2023.
Hill ended the 2023 campaign with less tackles than in 2022, but he made noise elsewhere by tallying the first two interceptions of his NFL career. His two big-man INTs came against Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew and Vikings signal-caller Nick Mullens. Hill remains a reliable starter heading into his age-29 season, but the Bengals have some cap decisions to make, so his contract stands out as a potential restructure.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Nick Scott: Finishes 2023 in depth role
Rotowire
Scott racked up 57 tackles (35 solo) and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season appearances with the Bengals in 2023.
Scott began the first season of his three-year contract with Cincinnati in a starting role, but by Week 11 he was clearly replaced by 2023 third-round pick Jordan Battle at strong safety. The Bengals have a potential 'out' in Scott's contract for only $2 million in dead money this offseason, so it wouldn't be surprising if he ends up having to search for a role elsewhere.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Sam Hubbard: Tallies 6.0 sacks in 2023
Rotowire
Hubbard recorded 58 tackles (38 solo), including 6.0 sacks, and two fumble recoveries across 15 regular-season appearances in 2023.
Hubbard has racked up at least 6.0 sacks in five of his six seasons with the Bengals. His value for Cincinnati comes more as a run stopper than as a true pass rusher, which makes him more a floor than ceiling IDP play, but there's value in his consistent usage. Hubbard remains under contract with the Bengals for two more seasons.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Jordan Battle: Impressive rookie campaign
Rotowire
Battle tallied 71 tackles (43 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and five passes defensed (one interception) across 17 regular-season appearances in 2023.
Battle, a 2023 third-round pick, played a rotational role in Cincinnati's secondary through the first 10 games of the season before finally securing the starting gig at strong safety. Upon earning the starting role, Battle never looked back, averaging 7.4 tackles per contest down the stretch while operating as one of the more reliable playmakers among the Bengals defense. He could prove a valuable contributor in IDP formats as soon as the 2024 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Mike Hilton: Career-high tackle total in 2023
Rotowire
Hilton racked up 84 tackles (64 solo), 2.0 sacks, eight passes defensed (including two interceptions) and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season games in 2023.
Hilton tallied career-high numbers in terms of tackles in 2023, while also handling the most defensive snaps (841) of his NFL career. Now heading into both his age-30 season and the final year of his contract with the Bengals, Hilton likely remains locked into a key role for Cincinnati's secondary, though that's never quite translated to him being a valuable fantasy asset.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Germaine Pratt: Career-year in 2023
Rotowire
Pratt logged 118 total tackles, including seven tackles for loss, and also intercepted two passes in 17 games with the Bengals during the 2023 regular season.
The 27-year-old linebacker has statistically improved in each of his five NFL seasons thus far, setting career-highs in total tackles, tackles for loss and sacks (2.0) in 2023. Pratt agreed to a three-year, $21 million contract with the Bengals this past offseason, which will keep him in Cincinnati through the 2025 season. The Bengals seem to have found a nice linebacker tandem, as Logan Wilson and Pratt combined for 253 total tackles this season. Expect Pratt to continue producing at a high-level for Cincinnati's defense in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Dax Hill: Impressive sophomore season
Rotowire
Hill recorded 110 total tackles, which includes six tackles for loss, and also defended 11 passes, including two interceptions, in 17 games with the Bengals during the 2023 regular season.
With the departure of Vonn Bell this past offseason, Hill was given the opportunity to start after being selected in the first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. It's safe to say the Michigan product didn't disappoint in 2023, as he ranked first on the Bengals in pass deflections and third in total tackles. Hill's rookie contract will keep him in Cincinnati through the 2025 season and he'll look to add another productive year to his resume in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Bengals' Logan Wilson: Leads team in tackles
Rotowire
Wilson logged 135 total tackles, including five tackles for loss, while also forcing two fumbles and intercepting four passes in 17 games with the Bengals during the 2023 regular season.
Wilson had the most productive season of his career in 2023, posting his third consecutive season with 100-plus stops and beating his previous best's in total tackles, forced fumbles and pass deflections. The fourth-year pro inked an extension before the year that will keep him in Cincinnati through the 2027 season. Wilson has statistically improved every year since entering the NFL and he'll look to make his first Pro Bowl or All-Pro team in 2024.
