July 22 – Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson is not reporting to training camp on Tuesday.
Hendrickson confirmed to ESPN that he will not join the rest of his Bengals teammates at camp and posted a picture of a Florida highway on Instagram. The social media post came one day after Bengals team president Mike Brown expressed optimism that contract talks were trending in a positive direction.
“I think we are in a good spot. I hope this thing comes together soon. I’m just going to leave it at that,” Brown said in an interview with Bengals.com.
Hendrickson is subject to daily fines of $50,000 for missing training camp.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Hendrickson has been seeking a long-term deal since last year.
At issue is Hendrickson’s $15.8 million salary in 2025, the last season on a four-year, $60 million contract he signed in 2021. The highest-paid pass rushers in the NFL are all making at least $34 million per season with Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons in queue for what is expected to be a massive payday.
Hendrickson has indicated he won’t play without a bump in pay and expressed disappointment in the process in mid-May.
“When there’s a lack of communication in any relationship, where it’s a business or personal relationship, lack of communication leads to animosity, and that leaves my narrative only to me with no clear direction,” Hendrickson said May 13 when asked about whether he wants to remain with the Bengals.
Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt nudged the market to a new level last week with a three-year deal averaging $41 million per season. The $123 million pact pushed Watt ahead of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ($40 million), who jumped the line with a fully guaranteed contract he signed with Cleveland in March. Danielle Hunter (Houston Texans, $35.6 million AAV) and Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders, $35.5 million) are one rung above 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa ($28 million)
Hendrickson, 30, had 17.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons. He has 57 total sacks and four Pro Bowl selections in his four seasons with Cincinnati.
Hendrickson has 77 career sacks in 110 games (81 starts), divided equally between the New Orleans Saints (2017-20) and Bengals.
