Trey Hendrickson Stands Firm: Will Not Play Until a Deal is Reached
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson is holding firm on his stance to not participate in the upcoming season until contract negotiations are resolved. Hendrickson spoke with Laura Rutledge in Landover, Maryland, before the Bengals’ game against the Washington Commanders, and reiterated the key points of his position in his contract negotiations. According to Hendrickson, there is a general agreement with the team on the total average annual salary and the length of the contract. The main point of disagreement remains the amount of money guaranteed in a possible contract extension. Cincinnati’s stance of not providing a guaranteed salary after the first season has stalled progress. At the start of the offseason, the Bengals allowed Hendrickson to seek a team willing to acquire the outstanding player, but so far, no proposals have materialized. The four-time Pro Bowl player, who will turn 31 this fall, has a salary of $16 million for this season. Hendrickson ended his holdout on July 30 and has been with the team since then, although without participating in practices. Coming off his best season to date, after leading the NFL with 17.5 total sacks in 2024. Hendrickson’s comments on Monday are among the few he has made since ending his holdout and reporting to training camp in late July. He has not practiced with the Bengals as both sides seek to resolve their contract dispute.“Recognition is not something I pursue,” Hendrickson said on July 30. “It’s not. I think I’ve made my statements clear. Safety is something I value and [telling] my wife where we’re going to play. Those are the things that matter to me.”
