The Cincinnati Bengals may have secured long-term deals for their star receivers, but the tension surrounding Trey Hendrickson’s future continues to cast a shadow over the team’s offseason.
While Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins each landed massive extensions, Hendrickson — who finished as runner-up for 2024 Defensive Player of the Year — remains locked in a public standoff with a front office unwilling to budge.
Cincinnati Bengals Torched Over ‘Hard Ball’ Trey Hendrickson Tactics
Now, the situation is drawing criticism from voices outside the building. On FS1’s “1st & Football,” former NFL stars Mark Schlereth and Greg Jennings sounded off on the Bengals’ handling of their defensive cornerstone, raising concerns about locker room morale, leadership breakdowns, and a growing rift that could keep Hendrickson off the field in Week 1.
Mark Schlereth, a three-time Super Bowl champion and longtime NFL analyst, didn’t hold back when addressing the messaging coming from Cincinnati’s coaching staff. “When the head coach is basically saying, ‘Hey, show up or you’re gonna get fined,’ that is not the head coach’s job,” Schlereth said.
“That’s a break in the chain of command within the Cincinnati Bengals. And if I’m a player, I’m the locker room going, ‘That’s our best defensive player and you guys are playing hard ball with that guy? You guys aren’t treating him fairly.’ That would irritate me. It would irritate me with the coaching staff, it would irritate me as a player because that’s one of my dudes and that dude is pivotal to us winning.”
Schlereth’s frustration underscores a broader sentiment: Hendrickson isn’t just another disgruntled player. He’s the Bengals’ most impactful pass rusher and arguably the heartbeat of a defense that finished 28th in PFSN’s Defense+ rankings last season.
Without him, Cincinnati’s path back to contention becomes far more difficult — especially in a division that features Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens and perennial playoff contender Pittsburgh Steelers.
Greg Jennings, a former Pro Bowl wide receiver, added another layer to the discussion, pointing out the emotional toll contract drama can have on a player. “One of the things that Trey alluded to, is the idea that you get sent that text from your head coach 30 days before, almost indicating this is not gonna get done,” Jennings said.
“You try your best to not make it personal because you understand it is a business, but once your emotions get involved, it becomes personal. You start looking at the head coach, ‘Oh, so you wanted your offensive guys, but the defensive guys can’t get paid.’ I don’t think he’s starting with the Bengals Week 1.”
That resentment isn’t hard to understand. In March, Cincinnati handed Ja’Marr Chase a four-year, $161 million deal — $112 million guaranteed — making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Tee Higgins followed with a four-year, $115 million extension. While those deals secure Joe Burrow’s top weapons, the message to Hendrickson appears clear: the offense comes first.
With organized team activities (OTAs) looming and Hendrickson’s leverage fading fast, the Bengals find themselves at a crossroads that may define the tone and trajectory of their 2025 season.