Zac Taylor was asked about there being a path to Hendrickson coming back this week and said, “There’s always a path.” He said that because he had to, because there is no path here. It’s actually kind of funny envisioning what the real-life version of that path would be. My best answer would be to Google the Darien Gap. Bridges have been set on fire here, so there’s no realistic return to Cincinnati for 2026 in the plans. When they let him walk, the team would likely receive a 2027 third-round compensatory pick.
Chance of return: 1 percent