Sam Hubbard throws more support Trey Hendrickson's way as Bengals training camp nears

Sam Hubbard came into the NFL a year after Trey Hendrickson, but he's the one who decided to retire this offseason while Hendrickson is trying to extend the prime of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Cincinnati had Hubbard and Hendrickson bookending its defensive line for the past four years and Hubbard was a starter for two years prior to Hendrickson's arrival. The Cincy native got a front-row seat to watch Hendrickson develop into the Pro Bowl—and now All-Pro—caliber player he is.

And he doesn't see that stopping any time soon. 

"I think it's just a testament of what doing your craft and living the right way can compound over time," Hubbard said of Hendrickson to Pro Football Focus' Cris Collinsworth. "Like Trey eats perfectly, sleeps perfectly, constantly works on his game, is obsessed with football. And you do that your first couple years, you're gonna be pretty good. You do that for what is it, eight years straight? He's wired where he could do it all day, and that's what makes him special." 

Sam Hubbard expects Trey Hendrickson to stay at an elite level this season

It's the biggest conundrum the Bengals' front office faces with their star pass rusher. Hendrickson is 30 years old looking to get paid a lot more than the $16 million in cash he's scheduled to make this season. Paying him a raise is one thing, but doing so in a way that keeps him around for years to come is a risk Cincinnati has yet to sign off on.

Hendrickson put together back-to-back 17.5 sack-seasons from 2023-24. Maintaining that level of production will be challenging, but it's what the Bengals will need to fel confident in should another long-term deal be finalized in the coming weeks. 

Hubbard at least expects 2025 to be no issue at all.

"To do 17.5 sacks back to back that late in your career, and I still have full confidence, he'll be able to do it again," Hubbard proclaimed. "I'm training with him right now even though I'm not getting ready for camp." 

Why train four months after retiring?

"He needed a training partner while he was in town I was like hey, you know, I still got to stay healthy," Hubbard said. "So let's get after it. Like old times."