The Pro Football Writers of America have started announcing their on-field awards, and somehow Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson was both honored and snubbed at the same time.
Hendrickson was voted to the All-NFL Team for the first time in his career, joining the Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett as the top defensive ends, as voted on by members of the PFWA. Hendrickson recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks in 2023, which ranked second in the league to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt, who made the All-NFL Team as an outside linebacker.
Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson Selected to All-NFL Team for First Time
In addition to finishing second in sacks, Hendrickson also finished second to the Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons in pressure percentage, according to Pro Football Focus. Hendrickson’s 11.2 pressure percentage was a career high, topping his previous best of 10.2, which he set in 2021 during Cincinnati’s run to Super Bowl LVI.
Hendrickson is the Bengals’ pass rush at the moment, with his 17.5 sacks — the most in franchise history since sacks became an official stat in 1982 — nearly tripling the next-highest total on the team, which was Sam Hubbard’s total of 6.0.
In fact, you would need to add up the totals of the next five players to match Hendrickson’s total of 17.5: Hubbard (6), B.J. Hill (4.5), Myles Murphy (3), Mike Hilton/Germaine Pratt/Jordan Battle (2 each).
To put it in further perspective, Hendrickson’s 11.5-sack lead was the largest margin between sack leader and runner-up in Bengals history.
There have only been five Bengals to reach 11.5 sacks in a season since 1982, let alone lead the next closest defender by that much — Eddie Edwards (13 – 1983), Geno Atkins (12 – 2012), Michael Johnson (11.5 – 2012), Carlos Dunlap (13.5 – 2015) and Hendrickson (14 – 2021).
The Cincinnati chapter of the PFWA has named Trey Hendrickson the #Bengals MVP for 2023.
— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) January 12, 2024
Hendrickson was also voted the team MVP by the Cincinnati chapter of the PFWA, snapping Joe Burrow’s two-year hold on the award.
What’s confusing about the overall PFWA awards is that while Hendrickson is a member of the All-NFL Team, he’s not listed on the All-AFC Team.
MORE: Needed Change Coming to Cincinnati’s Defensive Line
The two defensive ends listed on the All-AFC Team are Garrett and the Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby.
Here is the list of players on the PFWA All-NFL, All-AFC, and All-NFC teams.
2023 PFWA All-NFL Team
Offense
- QB – Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
- RB – Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers; Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
- WR – Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins*; CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
- TE – George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
- C – Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles#
- G – Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys#; Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs
- T – Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions; Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers#
Defense
- DE – Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns&; Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
- DT – Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs*
- OLB – Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys#; T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
- MLB – Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers*
- CB – DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys; Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, New York Jets*
- S – Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons; Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens
Special Teams
- PK – Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys
- P – A.J. Cole, Las Vegas Raiders
- KR – Keisean Nixon, Green Bay Packers*
- PR – Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
- ST – Miles Killebrew, Pittsburgh Steelers
* – repeat selection from 2022
# – consecutive selections from 2021-23
& – consecutive selections from 2020-23
PFWA All-AFC Team
Offense
- QB – Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
- RB – Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans; Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins
- WR – Nico Collins, Houston Texans; Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins&
- TE – Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs*
- C – Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs#
- G – Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns&; Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs*
- T – Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills; Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans*
Defense
- DE – Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders#; Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns&
- DT – Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs&; Quinnen Williams, New York Jets*
- OLB – Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars; T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
- MLB – Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens*
- CB – Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, New York Jets*; Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos*
- S – Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens; Jevon Holland, Miami Dolphins
Special Teams
- PK – Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
- P – A.J. Cole, Las Vegas Raiders
- KR – Marvin Mims, Jr., Denver Broncos (r)
- PR – Derius Davis, Los Angeles Chargers (r)
- ST – Miles Killebrew, Pittsburgh Steelers
(r) – rookie
* – repeat selection from 2022
# – consecutive selections from 2021-23
& – consecutive selections from 2020-23
PFWA All-NFC Team
Offense
- QB – Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
- RB – Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers*; Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
- WR – Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions; CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
- TE – George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers#
- C – Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles#
- G – Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons*; Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys#
- T – Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions; Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers&
Defense
- DE – Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers#; Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
- DT – Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants*
- OLB – Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings; Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys#
- MLB – Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers*
- CB – DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys; Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
- S – Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons; Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Special Teams
- PK – Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys
- P – Bryan Anger, Dallas Cowboys
- KR – Keisean Nixon, Green Bay Packers*
- PR – Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
- ST – Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Detroit Lions
* – repeat selection from 2022
# – consecutive selections from 2021-23
& – consecutive selections from 2020-23
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