Trey Hendrickson explains his holdout as Bengals drama deepens

Trey Hendrickson peeled back the curtain on why he’s holding out on the Bengals. 

Speaking with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the star pass rusher said he’s in Jacksonville training after he didn’t get what he wanted during negotiations with the franchise. 

“I spent the last 30 days at my home in Cincinnati, which is across the river from the stadium,” Hendrickson told the outlet. We were given two offers within a 24-hour period, and (neither) of them had the guarantees we were looking for. I wanted to be there, but there’s no way I would be able to sit there in the house and hear the practice whistles while also being a distraction. I don’t want to ruin the other 10 guys’ 2025 season on my contract language.

“I was more than willing to take less in some ways in order to make a deal work to accommodate the presented needs. I verbalized to the Bengals that I wanted to be a captain, to lead a young defense. And once rookie Shemar Stewart gets back at camp, I want to pass along the knowledge that I have, just like Cam Jordan once did for me. As I see it, Shemar and I are not competitors, we’re teammates. I’m excited to go to work with him when the time comes.”

Contract talks appeared to be trending in the right direction Monday before Hendrickson posted a photo to his Instagram story Tuesday with a location tag of Florida — hundreds of miles south of the Bengals’ training camp.

Just one day earlier, Bengals owner Mike Brown expressed optimism on a potential deal with Hendrickson.

“We will get it done at some point, I think,” Brown told reporters. “I think we are in a good spot. I hope this thing comes together soon.”

Hendrickson had high praise for Brown in his conversation with The Athletic despite the tough negotiations. 

“As a man, he’s amazing. I don’t think anyone in Cincinnati has a bigger heart, I understand this is part of the business… I don’t want to repeat my actions at (mandatory) minicamp,” Hendrickson said. “I have a great relationship with Zac [Taylor] and I want to keep it that way. The Bengals want me to be in Cincinnati and I want to be in Cincinnati.”

The Bengals have reportedly only been willing to offer Hendrickson, 30, one year of guaranteed money.

Fellow star pass rushers T.J. Watt, Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett have all received three years of guaranteed money in recent months.

Hendrickson, who is set to make $15.8 million in the final year of his contract this year, led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5, was named First Team All-Pro and was second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.