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Trey Hendrickson gives Bengals an ultimatum

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated May 13, 2025 1:09 PM ET

Trey Hendrickson has been seeking a new contract from the Cincinnati Bengals, and the star pass-rusher says he has no intention of playing in 2025 if he does not get one.

Hendrickson showed up to voluntary workouts with the Bengals on Tuesday, though he was not in uniform and did not participate. Instead, he spoke with the media for roughly 20 minutes to express more frustration about his contract situation.

Hendrickson, who is set to make $16 million in the final year of his contract this year, issued a statement on Monday calling out the Bengals for not communicating with him since before the draft. He said the team has shown a “lack of interest” in negotiating with his camp.

The 30-year-old Hendrickson said he issued the statement on Monday in response to head coach Zac Taylor informing Hendrickson that he will be fined if he skips mandatory minicamp. With mandatory practices being three weeks away, Hendrickson felt that warning was premature and unnecessary.

Hendrickson also told reporters that he will not play this season without a new contract.

Trey Hendrickson just spent 25 minutes with us and had a lot to say and didn’t hold back. The word “disappointed” was used often.

Said his statements have been “provoked.”

Asked explicitly if he will play on the current deal: “No.”

Stay tuned, much more to come.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) May 13, 2025

Hendrickson said the Bengals want him to sign a shorter deal, whereas he prefers a long-term contract so he does not have the same issue every offseason.

“It’s something where I think both parties should understand that a long-term contract guarantees that I can continue to play at the level that I have been,” Hendrickson said. “There’s a mutual respect where that’s where my values lie and it also allows me to stop having to negotiate every offseason.

“I wouldn’t be standing here with you if I got the deal in January, so to say I’m gonna sit out (regular-season games) or I’m not going to — what I can say is I’m very disappointed with the communication that’s been had.”

Trey Hendrickson: Every relationship is repairable. Look at Myles Garrett. This is the uncomfortable part of the business side.

“I don’t harbor animosity.”

Says Zac Taylor sent him a text that he would be fined if he didn’t show up to upcoming mandatory camp. pic.twitter.com/4L1cAJytNT
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) May 13, 2025

Hendrickson said in March that the Bengals had given him permission to seek a trade and thanked them for the opportunity. It then looked at one point like the two sides were making progress toward a new deal, but the negotiations have clearly gone stagnant.

Hendrickson had 35 sacks over the past two seasons, which was the most in the NFL during that span. He had 17.5 sacks each season and finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting last year.

Though it remains to be seen if Hendrickson would actually carry his holdout into the regular season, this is not the first warning he has issued to the Bengals.

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

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