Bengals’ win vs. Ravens spotlights Hendrickson, Higgins injury watch

It’s almost easy to forget the Cincinnati Bengals didn’t have Trey Hendrickson and Tee Higgins on the field for the Thanksgiving blowout of the Baltimore Ravens.

Joe Burrow returned, after all, stepping into the spotlight.

And others stepped up huge to match that energy. Andrei Iosivas had a big touchdown grab. So did Tanner Hudson. Defensively, Joseph Ossai decided to have a breakout game with two sacks. Myles Murphy has started to suddenly match his first-round billing, too.

Still, getting Higgins and Hendrickson back would be nice, right?

RELATED: Bengals’ playoff outlook, standings update after win vs. Ravens

Higgins suffered the concussion during the loss to New England last weekend while Ja’Marr Chase served his one-game suspension. The short week made a return for the Ravens game impossible. But if all goes well, he shouldn’t miss another game.

Hendrickson is a different story, though.

The All-Pro defensive end Hendrickson wants to make a return this year and player and team have decided he won’t go on injured reserve. But reports say Hendrickson likely needs surgery this offseason to correct his core muscle injury.

Hendrickson hasn’t been able to play since the late-October loss to the New York Jets, where he reaggravated the injury. Going to injured reserve would’ve forced him to miss four games. So far, he’s missed three, plus the bye week, so perhaps they hope for a return next week in Buffalo against the Bills.

Ossai and Murphy enjoying boosts in Hendrickson’s absence is a possible great sign for the future. But tacking Hendrickson back into the mix as the Bengals look to win out, even on a rotational basis? It would certainly make the Bengals’ playoff outlook quite a bit better.

RELATED: Trey Hendrickson injury could force Bengals DE into offseason surgery

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ win vs. Ravens spotlights Hendrickson, Higgins injury watch