Star Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson suffered a back injury against the Green Bay Packers and did not return, leaving his status for the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday up in the air.

Cincinnati fell to 2-4 after a loss to the Packers 27-18, and lost more than just Hendrickson in that matchup, too. Both starting guards are hurt, tight end Mike Geisicki went down with an injury, and standout tackle Amarius Mims battled through an injury.

That could put all of those players at risk of missing Thursday’s game with those issues, but none would be bigger than Hendrickson, who is the biggest bright spot on a struggling defense.

Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks in 2024 and already has four this season. He has been a Pro Bowler in each of the last four seasons since joining the Bengals from the New Orleans Saints, and the Bengals have built their defense around him.

Cincinnati is in a spot where this game has become nothing short of a must-win game for that team considering they are 2-4, and the Steelers have already lengthened their AFC North lead with a win over the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday.