The San Francisco 49ers have been dealing with adversity from the get-go in the 2025 season, and while they have largely been able to overcome it so far, they reached their breaking point in Week 6 when they suffered a 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Injuries continue to mount, as superstar linebacker Fred Warner was the latest player to go down for the season in this loss.
Back in Week 3, the 49ers lost their other defensive superstar, Nick Bosa, to a torn ACL, and since then, they have been searching for ways to replace him. One avenue is the trade market, with the team having been linked to Cincinnati Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. However, the Niners’ hopes of acquiring Hendrickson have been dealt a crushing blow.
49ers Set to Miss Out on Trey Hendrickson Trade
Every injury San Francisco suffers makes its quest to win a title all the more difficult. Losing Bosa, though, was the first gut punch that the team had managed to overcome in the immediate aftermath. Despite losing Bosa, the Niners went on to beat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3, before handing the Los Angeles Rams a shocking upset defeat in Week 5.
Even with the team staying afloat in the wake of Bosa’s injury absence, it’s always been clear that if the team wants to make the most out of the season, they are going to need to find a way to replace him. A potential option emerged in Hendrickson, who finds himself on a Bengals team that has lost four straight games after losing Joe Burrow to a long-term toe injury.
Even though he got his contract situation settled with Cincy before Week 1, Hendrickson’s future with the team remains unsettled, which could make him a trade candidate. The Niners would seemingly be a perfect landing spot since they have a massive hole on their defensive line without Bosa, but reports have emerged indicating that the Bengals aren’t looking to trade Hendrickson right now.
“The 49ers have been scanning the trade market for pass-rush options,” Jeremy Fowler wrote for ESPN. “I’m told the Niners consider Trey Hendrickson an ideal fit for their defense if the Bengals would part with him for reasonable compensation. But I’m also told Cincinnati has no plans to trade Hendrickson at this time. Despite a 2-4 record, Cincinnati plans to remain all-in on this season, and the offense showed signs of life with Joe Flacco on Sunday in Green Bay.”
Who Should the 49ers Pursue After Trey Hendrickson Talks Get Shut Down?
GettyTrey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
If Hendrickson were to end up on the trade block, he’d be the biggest name available ahead of the trade deadline. However, it doesn’t seem like the Bengals are ready to pull the plug on their season just yet, which means the 49ers are going to have to look elsewhere for the time being. There’s no doubt this is a big blow, especially with Warner out for the year now, too.
Several pass rushers could be dealt before the deadline, with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips of the Miami Dolphins being a pair of potential options for San Francisco. They aren’t the same caliber of player as Hendrickson is, but they could help fill Bosa’s shoes for the rest of the season. In the meantime, the 49ers will look to get back in the win column in Week 7 when they take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football.
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