Lamar Jackson spent four seasons watching Trey Hendrickson wreck offenses from the other sideline. Now the pass rusher lines up behind him at Ravens training camp, and Jackson isn’t shy about how much he’s enjoying the change of scenery.
Speaking with Jacob Hester on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Jackson opened up about what it’s meant to have Trey Hendrickson in a Ravens uniform instead of across the line of scrimmage twice a year as a Bengal. “Just to have him on our side, man, and don’t have to face him twice a year, it’s extraordinary,” Jackson said, according to SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I’m loving it… He’s just a wreck. He’s doing the job at a high pace. I’m glad he’s on our team. I’m glad he’s on our team.”
Jackson didn’t stop there. He made clear that Hendrickson isn’t easing into his new team — he’s already causing problems in practice reps against Baltimore’s own offense. “He’s gonna make the opposing teams’ difficult on offense,” Jackson continued. “He’s already making our life difficult on offense in training camp, and, man, it’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous with him. I love it. I love it, though.”
SiriusXM NFL Radio posted the interview on X: “I’m glad he’s on our team….. Lamar Jackson says he’s very pleased to have Trey Hendrickson with him now after going against him for so many years.” —
"I'm glad he's on our team….."
Lamar Jackson says he's very pleased to have Trey Hendrickson with him now after going against him for so many years.
📻 https://t.co/1S6vayal9l@Ravens I #RavensFlock I @JacobHester18 pic.twitter.com/MRE03aBpQe
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) August 12, 2026
How Hendrickson landed in Baltimore
The Ravens signed Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract in free agency this past March, with $60 million fully guaranteed. The move came together fast. Baltimore had been closing in on a trade for Las Vegas edge rusher Maxx Crosby, but that deal collapsed over medical concerns, and general manager Eric DeCosta pivoted to Hendrickson within hours, according to NFL.com.
Hendrickson arrived in Baltimore after two straight offseasons of extension talks with Cincinnati that never got over the finish line. He held out ahead of the 2025 season before agreeing to a raise, but the Bengals ultimately let him reach the open market rather than tag him again. That history means Hendrickson now chases former teammate Joe Burrow twice a year instead of the other way around, and he stays inside a division he already knows well.
The pass rusher’s numbers speak for themselves even after a rough final year in Cincinnati. He enters his 10th NFL season with 236 combined tackles, 81.0 career sacks and 15 forced fumbles. He led the league with 17.5 sacks in 2024, made four straight Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors. But hip, pelvis and core-muscle injuries limited him to just seven games in 2025, and he underwent core-muscle surgery in December before Cincinnati moved on.
| Season | Games | Sacks |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 17 | 17.5 |
| 2024 | 17 | 17.5 |
| 2025 | 7 | 4.0 |
What it means for the Ravens defense
Baltimore’s pass rush was tied for third-fewest sacks in the league last season, and that’s the exact problem Hendrickson is being paid to fix. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has already compared his demeanor on the field to J.J. Watt, whom Weaver coached for five seasons, saying Hendrickson’s competitiveness shows up the moment anyone questions his effort.
The early returns through camp back that up. Hendrickson beat a double team late in one practice to get home on Jackson, and coaches have given him rest days alongside veterans like Derrick Henry and Ronnie Stanley to manage his workload as he builds back from surgery. For a quarterback who’s used to game-planning around Hendrickson twice a year, watching him do the same thing to Baltimore’s own line in camp is proof the investment is real, even before the pads fully come on.
