Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson made an appearance at the team’s offseason program for the first time on Tuesday, but it wasn’t to take part in their workout.
Hendrickson was dressed for a round of golf rather than any football work and he timed his attendance for a day when the media would also be present. Hendrickson spoke to those reporters after the session about his ongoing contractual issues with the team.
Hendrickson said, via multiple reporters, that his Monday statement about the lack of recent negotiations with the team came after hearing from head coach Zac Taylor that he would be fined for missing the team’s mandatory minicamp. Hendrickson took that and the lack of interest in talking to mean that no deal will come in that timeframe and said, via Charlie Clifford of WLWT, that he’s been “very disappointed with the communication that’s been had.”
What Hendrickson will do for minicamp remains to be seen, but he said that he does not plan to play this season under his current contract. He reiterated that he believes that the team committed to working out a long-term deal in the past and that they have since shifted to pushing for a shorter deal.
That’s not something Hendrickson wants and that suggests that there’s not going to be an end to the standoff in Cincinnati for some time.
Trey Hendrickson released a statement on Monday noting his displeasure with the state of his contract negotiations with the Bengals.
But the defensive end has nevertheless reported to the building.
Via multiple reporters on the scene, Hendrickson is present for the Bengals’ offseason program workout that is open to the media on Tuesday. But he is in street clothes, indicating that he will not actively participate on the field.
Hendrickson and the Bengals have been engaged in a public back-and-forth over his contract. On Monday, Hendrickson’s statement said that there have not been any negotiations between his camp and the team since the draft.
Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn has said, “it’s on [Hendrickson] to be happy at some point” and that Hendrickson “should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at.”
Hendrickson later called those comments “disappointing” and “frustrating.”
Hendrickson is entering the last year of his contract with the Bengals and is slated to make $15.8 million in base salary. He’s recorded 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons. That mark led the league in 2024.
Cincinnati is also at a contract impasse with its top two draft picks, as neither No.17 overall pick Shemar Stewart nor second-round pick Demetrius Knight participated in rookie minicamp over the weekend.
As offseason programs continue across the league, the NFL’s 2024 sack leader remains unhappy with his current team.
In a statement issued to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, defensive end Trey Hendrickson said he and the Bengals remain at an impasse when it comes to his contract.
“No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft,” Hendrickson said. “The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. Coaches are aware of these past conversations. Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating.
“I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that’s hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.”
Hendrickson is entering the last year of his contract with the Bengals and is slated to make $15.8 million in base salary. He has been pushing for a new contract from Cincinnati, but to this point, the organization has not made him a satisfactory offer.
Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn has said, “it’s on [Hendrickson] to be happy at some point” and that Hendrickson “should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at.”
Hendrickson later called those comments “disappointing” and “frustrating.”
Hendrickson signed with Cincinnati in 2021 after spending his first four seasons with the Saints. He’s recorded 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons, leading the league in the category in 2024.
The Bengals have made a pair of roster moves on Monday.
Cincinnati announced the club has signed safety Shaquan Loyal.
An undrafted free agent out of Rutgers, Loyal started all 13 games at safety in his senior season and received honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition.
As a corresponding move, Cincinnati waived cornerback Micah Abraham.
A Colts sixth-round pick in 2024, Abraham spent the last 12 games of last season on the Bengals’ practice squad. He did not appear in a game.
Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart took a stand.
Without his rookie contract in place, the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft was unwilling to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp. Despite the criticism he has received from some, it was absolutely the right move. Given the ease with which rookie deals are now negotiated, no player should set foot on a practice field without the security that comes from the finalization of his rookie deal.
There’s no reason for the team to force any player to assume even the slightest amount of risk. For first-round picks, all four years are fully guaranteed. Once the player signs, the injury risk shifts to the team. Where it should be, if the player is going to be practicing with the team.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Bengals tried to get Stewart signed. As we understand it, the talks bogged down regarding the percentage of compensation in future years to be paid as a training-camp roster bonus.
The training-camp roster bonus has become a device for putting a sizable chunk of the player’s pay in his pockets in future years, early in the season. In this case, the numbers offered by the Bengals reflected a lower percentage than the 17th overall pick received in 2024.
It’s a simple fix. Match or beat the percentage from 2024, and the deal gets done. And Stewart shows up.
With more and more players signing their rookie deals before participating in the rookie minicamp, every player should be willing to take a stand. The message is simple, clear, and as fair as it can be:
If you want me to act like an employee, make me one.
