Tough Start to Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 10:24 AM ET

It's the start of another training camp for the Cincinnati Bengals, and it will once again come with some distractions. Head coach Zac Taylor and his squad will be without two big names as they get ready for the 2025 season.

Trey Hendrickson was the biggest name, as he confirmed over the weekend that he would be skipping the first day as his contract standoff drags on. Shemar Stewart is the second member of the squad that will miss, as he is still looking to sign his rookie contract.

Kelsey Conway, a Cincinnati Bengals beat reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer and also for USA Today, reported the latest on Tuesday morning.

"Now that we know Trey Hendrickson won’t report today and Shemar Stewart didn’t report over the weekend (neither are in Cincinnati), the Bengals will begin camp without two players they are very much counting on this season. Another camp with contract distractions."

Now that we know Trey Hendrickson won’t report today and Shemar Stewart didn’t report over the weekend (neither are in Cincinnati), the Bengals will begin camp without two players they are very much counting on this season.

Another camp with contract distractions.
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) July 22, 2025

Despite a strong finish last season where he led the league with 17.5 sacks, Hendrickson is still without the long-term extension he’s been chasing. He also sat out minicamp in June, racking up nearly $105,000 in fines.

The Bengals’ front office insisted Monday they believed a deal was close. Team president Mike Brown said negotiations were active and optimistic. Still, Hendrickson remains unsigned and unhappy, entering the final year of his current deal.

The 30-year-old has been one of the most productive edge rushers in the league over the past three seasons. His 43 sacks since 2021 trail only Myles Garrett during that span.

For Stewart, he wants his contract to be fully guaranteed. He would get $18.97 million over four years. For Cincinnati, they want to make sure they have the ability to void some of the guaranteed money if Stewart were to break any NFL policies or the law. Bengals owner Mike Brown said the following:

"And our position is no. If that happens, we're not going to be. We're not going to be paying someone who's sitting in jail. That's not what we're going to do."

The Bengals open the regular season on September 7 at Cleveland.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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