Bengals star Trey Hendrickson’s messy contract saga takes new twist

The Cincinnati Bengals have reopened negotiations with Trey Hendrickson, according to ESPN.

Both sides are now communicating again, it appears, offering a pathway to an agreement, which may be reached ahead of training camp.

Hendrickson, 30, is one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers, having just tied for an NFL-best 17.5 sacks and earning First-Team All-Pro honors in 2024.

The former Florida Atlantic standout also recorded 17.5 sacks in 2023 and has racked up 77 career sacks since entering the league in 2017 as a third-round pick.

The contract impasse grew heated earlier this offseason when Hendrickson skipped voluntary workouts and stayed away from mandatory minicamp in June, prompting fines totaling more than $100,000.

He even showed up in casual clothing to publicly address the situation.

“You try not to let the business become personal,” Hendrickson said in May. “I think over the last week or so, it’s become personal, unfortunately. When there’s a lack of communication in any relationship, if it’s business or personal relationship, lack of communication leads to animosity, and that leaves my narrative only to me with no clear direction. The lack of direction and communication is leading to things that are allowing me to think about what’s going to happen more than how great they have treated me over the last four years.”

He had publicly criticized the Bengals’ lack of communication and expressed unwillingness to play under his current one-year, $15.8 million base salary.

Amid Cincinnati allocating significant long-term contracts to core offensive talents like quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Hendrickson has remained steadfast in wanting a new deal himself.

Hendrickson has made four straight Pro Bowls and was second in Defensive Player of the Year voting from the Associated Press last season.

He has also put up at least 13 sacks across four of his last five seasons.