As Cincinnati Bengals training camp begins Wednesday, the NFL’s reigning sack leader remains without a contract extension. With an ongoing dispute between Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals, it appears the two are growing further apart.
Bengals Star DE Absent As Training Camp Commences
While a deal has yet to be ironed out, NFL insider Dianna Russini spoke with the 6’4″ sack king, who has headed to Jacksonville, FL, with his wife, Alisa.
EXCLUSIVE: Just spoke to Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who is currently in Jacksonville, FL. For the last 30 days, he had been at his home in Cincinnati and training.
But as training camp approached, he and his wife decided to leave. They received two offers in a… pic.twitter.com/evlSdeWlpK
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) July 22, 2025
Hendrickson was recently at his home in Cincinnati for 30 days where he trained and potentially awaited a new deal. Now, the 2017 third-round pick is in a land far far away with productive contract talks coming a long time ago.
Russini reports the 30-year-old received two underwhelming offers in the span of a day.
“They received two offers in a 24-hour span, none containing the guarantees past the first year he was looking for,” said Russini.
“Hendrickson didn’t want to hear the practice whistles while being a distraction to his teammates, so he and his wife, Alisa, decided to pack up and head to Florida.”
As Hendrickson evades being a potential distraction to his teammates, Russini says he has not stopped working.
“Down in Jacksonville, Hendrickson continues to train, hoping that a deal can be worked out,” said Russini.
There is no question the eight-year pro wants to make things work between he and Cincinnati. So much so, that he is willing to receive less in some manner to be with the club.
“I was more than willing to take less in some ways in order to make this work,” said Hendrickson.
Amid all the drama, Hendrickson is steadfast that things will workout. With several new faces on the Bengal defense, he hopes to lead the young group similarly to how he was once mentored when he entered the league.
“I verbalized to the Bengals that I wanted to be a captain, to lead a young defense,” said Hendrickson. “And once rookie Shemar Stewart gets back at camp, I want to pass along the knowledge that I have, just like Cam Jordan once did for me.
“As I see it, Shemar and I are not competitors, we’re teammates. I’m excited to go to work with him when the time comes.”
With Hendrickson willing to work it out, can he and Cincinnati compromise?
Bengals Between a Rock and Hard Place With Fellow Pass Rushers Getting Multiple Years of Guaranteed Money
NFL insider Adam Schefter claims the main reasoning behind the Hendrickson saga resides in the guaranteed money. All of TJ Watt, Myles Garrett, and Maxx Crosby received three-years of guaranteed money, whereas Hendrickson is being offered just one.
This is an issue revolving around guaranteed money; the Bengals have been willing to offer only one year of it while other top pass rushers – Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, TJ Watt – have gotten three. https://t.co/0Hy4wwJHgD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 22, 2025
“This is an issue revolving around guaranteed money; the Bengals have been willing to offer only one year of it while other top pass rushers – Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, TJ Watt – have gotten three.”
Manti Te’o, a former second-round draft choice says he spoke to the Bengals star and was told the same, that financial security is paramount.
During a segment of, “Good Morning Football,” Te’o says that the mark is not nearly close enough for Hendrickson.
Manti’s take 👀@Sara_Walsh https://t.co/JJn2TtzvcS pic.twitter.com/v82XDEB8ae
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) July 22, 2025
Te’o claims that in talking with Hendrickson, he learned the FAU alumnus wishes to remain in Cincinnati. However, when asked how far they are from a deal, Hendrickson kept it blunt with Te’o.
“He’s like, bro, ‘They are atrociously, atrociously low,”‘ Te’o said.
With Cincinnati’s defense coming off a poor season (28th on PFSN’s 2024 NFL Defense+ metric), the return of Hendrickson is crucial.
With other pass-rushers reaching the deals they please, will Hendrickson and Cincinnati find harmony, and will it be in time for the 2025 campaign?
