- Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson ended his holdout but is still seeking a new contract.
- Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks over the past two seasons and wants to be paid more than the $21 million he is due in 2025.
- Hendrickson expressed optimism about being ready for Week 1 despite the contract dispute.
CINCINNATI — Still without the new contract he is seeking, Trey Hendrickson turned his holdout into a ‘hold-in’ Wednesday at Cincinnati Bengals training camp. Most of the team’s fans lined up for a glimpse of the edge rusher – who has the most sacks in the NFL over the last two seasons – had already turned toward the practice fields by the time Hendrickson emerged from Paycor Stadium’s tunnel to watch his teammates practice.
Hendrickson won’t take the field until the ink is dry on the parchment. Instead, wearing his white cap and black sweats, Hendrickson chatted with defensive line coach/run game coordinator Jerry Montgomery as the Bengals stretched and warmed up. He meandered over to the stationary bikes. And he watched as quarterback Joe Burrow dotted passes and the Bengals’ defense turned up the intensity amid a solid practice for both sides of the ball.
“I’m not interested in going over what I’ve said before. I think everything’s out there,” Hendrickson said at his locker after practice.
With 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons (the mark led the league in 2024), Hendrickson is seeking better compensation that exceeds the $16 million he’s due to make in 2025, the final year of the extension he agreed to after his first two of four consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns.
Recognition is fine, Hendrickson said. But security is what he values most.
‘I can’t do any more at this time to rush the passer on Sundays,’ Hendrickson said. ‘The hay is in the barn. It’s just whether we agree or not.
‘Moving forward, we’ll see what transpires.’
Hendrickson first asked for a trade in April 2024 and has been adamant about not playing this season on his current deal. But he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and made his first All-Pro team following another strong season, which provided the player with more leverage. The Bengals granted him permission to seek a trade March 6, as the front office first focused on the extensions of wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
The negotiations took a dramatic turn when Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said on April 1: ‘I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point.’ Hendrickson expressed his dismay with the negotiations the next day on ‘The Pat McAfee Show.’ Talks resumed in June, but the sides could not come to an agreement.
As camp started, he posted a photo in his native Florida, a signal that he would be holding out. On Monday, ESPN reported there was still a gap in the talks over guaranteed money.
“Whenever you can have a guy like that in the building, who’s not (playing), it’s good to see his face, it’s good to have his presence,” quarterback Joe Burrow said. “He’s going to be a big, big part of this team this year. Just to have him around made a big difference in the energy around here.”
That energy is felt less so at practice but Hendrickson’s “unique” intensity is felt more around the training and meeting rooms, Burrow said.
“I think that’s good for us,” said Burrow, who added: “This is the guy that has the most sacks over the last two years, and production has value in this league.”
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Until Wednesday, Hendrickson was fined $50,000 for every day of camp he missed in accordance to the collective bargaining agreement in place between the NFL and players’ union.
The focus now turns to being a mentor and part of the defense “in this weird process that we’re going through.”
Nothing has changed, Hendrickson said. He talked the situation over with his wife, and he thought of the younger defenders on the Cincinnati roster.
“To not be a part of their development would be a selfish act,” Hendrickson said. “It was never the plan to leave. So being here for those guys is something I look forward to.”
When it comes to being ready for Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns, Hendrickson replied: ‘I’m always ready.’
The Florida Atlantic product said he takes pride in training hard during the offseason.
‘How I train I’m not worried about. If I’m going to be ready, I’m not worried about it,’ he said. ‘Hopefully everything works out and we don’t have to worry about anything like that.’
Despite the tense negotiations and public sparring, Hendrickson was grateful for the kind words that director of player personnel Duke Tobin and owner Mike Brown offered prior to camp.
‘For them to talk about me in a high regard is a special thing … circumstantially, I’m more excited in getting something done,’ Hendrickson said. ‘But as we continue to go through this process, I plan on handling everything with respect to Zac Taylor, the 2025 Bengals and not being a distraction in any way, shape or form.’