A day after releasing a statement making it clear talks with the Cincinnati Bengals over a contract extension had stalled, Trey Hendrickson was unequivocal he will not play the 2025 season on his current deal.
The Bengals’ All-Pro defensive end is entering the final year of his contract and is due to earn a $15.8 million base salary in 2025.
A Pro Bowler in each of his four seasons with Cincinnati, Hendrickson said in a statement on Monday that “no communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post-draft”.
Hendrickson appeared at the Bengals’ voluntary workouts on Tuesday but was not in uniform. Instead, he held court with the assembled media to vent his frustration at the lack of progress in negotiations.
Asked clearly if he would play the forthcoming season on his current contract, Hendrickson said: “No.”
Of the several aspects of the negotiations that have left him disappointed, Hendrickson pointed to a text message from head coach Zac Taylor as a development that led him to start taking things personally.
Hendrickson said Taylor sent him a text informing him he would be fined if he did not attend mandatory minicamp.
“We’ve tried to keep it as least amount personal as possible, but at some point in this process it becomes personal,” Hendrickson added.
“Being sent, 30 days before mandatory camp, or however many days it is, that if I don’t show up I’ll be fined, alludes to the fact that something won’t get done in that timeframe.
“And that, with the lack of communication post-draft, made it evidently clear for my party – meaning wife, my son and my agent – that I had to inform that this might not work out.
“That’s unfortunate, and I don’t think it was necessary. I think we should have all hoped for the best until proven otherwise, but, through that, other things have transpired. The importance of me being here at OTAs doesn’t seem to be respected, and I think I’ve carried a lot of respect. I don’t meant to insinuate anything about anyone’s character, but that was disappointing. I think that’s the word of the offseason.”
In 2023, Hendrickson received a one-year extension on the four-year, $60 million deal he signed with the Bengals as a free agent in 2021.
Last offseason saw him request a trade following Cincinnati’s decision not to extend him with a new long-term deal.
Hendrickson ultimately reported for voluntary workouts last year and went on to lead the league with 17.5 sacks, matching his tally from 2023.
