Cincinnati — Trey Hendrickson joined the Bengals practice for the first time this training camp after officially ending his holdout on Wednesday. Clad in full Bengals black gear, he stayed mostly near the defensive line, offering guidance to younger players and observing team drills from the sidelines.
Hendrickson made it clear that he would not fully participate until he secures a contract extension, but he wants to remain involved behind the scenes in the meantime. “There’s no need to play under the current contract,” Hendrickson said on Friday near the locker room. “We all share the same goal, and that’s the plan going forward. There’s no distraction. I’m excited to be here.”
He shared that he had been training in Cincinnati for 30 days and wanted to be present when the veterans arrived for training camp on July 22. Prior to camp, he had returned to Florida, his home. But on Wednesday, his presence felt routine: attending meetings early and engaging with rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart during practice.
Hendrickson comes off an outstanding NFL season, leading the league with 17.5 sacks, earning All-Pro honors, and marking his fourth straight Pro Bowl selection. Despite the accolades, what matters most to him now is the financial security and guarantees that a new contract would bring.
Bengals president Mike Brown, optimistic on July 21, insisted the deal would be completed and acknowledged Hendrickson deserves the $16 million cash raise he’s set to earn this season. While Hendrickson appreciates the praise, he’s focused on bigger goals for the crucial upcoming season.
“It’s special to be appreciated, and if that happened when I was 18, it would have warmed my heart even more,” Hendrickson said. “But I’m more motivated now to get something done. Meanwhile, I’m handling things with Coach Zach Taylor, not the Bengals organization in 2025.”
Fan Take: Hendrickson’s return, even amid contract negotiations, signals how vital he is to the Bengals’ defense and the intensity of the NFL’s business side. His situation highlights the balancing act between star players’ desire for fair compensation and teams’ strategic planning, a dynamic that continues to shape the future of the sport.
