Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson had a very good season, and he was noticed by former NFL defensive end J.J. Watt, who still talks to his former Houston Texans teammate and current Bengal DJ Reader.
“I talk to him about all those guys all the time,” J.J. Watt said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “(Sam) Hubbard and Trey. They’ve got a really good squad down there.”
Hendrickson finished just behind Watt’s younger brother, T.J. Watt in sacks this season, getting 17.5 while Watt had 19 for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hobson said Watt smiled as he talked about Hendrickson.
“Doesn’t always wear gloves, right? Goes barehanded. Among football guys, that’s like, ‘OK. Doesn’t wear gloves. That’s a little out there.'”
“But you respect it because it means you play the game a certain way and I think he embodies that … He’s a great player. An underrated player. He doesn’t get as much credit as he probably should, but he had a great year … He’s got some great moves and he’s also got power.”
Praise from someone of J.J. Watt’s caliber is nothing to scoff at, so for Hendrickson to be recognized by him is a high compliment.
