Jeff Haynes/AP Photos
Add another edge rusher to the Bears’ free-agent watch list: Trey Hendrickson.
The Bengals didn’t issue the franchise tag to their star defensive end by Wednesday’s 3 p.m. deadline, which means Hendrickson will head to free agency next week.
Hendrickson is 31 and played just seven games for the Bengals last season because of injury — and after an offseason tug-of-war about his contract. He had 17 ½ sacks in each of the previous two seasons, though.
He said goodbye to Cincinnati fans, teammates and coaches in a long letter Tuesday afternoon.