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Ben Baby
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson is firmly maintaining his decision not to participate in the upcoming season.
Hendrickson shared his thoughts with ESPN’s Laura Rutledge in Landover, Maryland, prior to Cincinnati’s matchup against the Washington Commanders, affirming that the key aspects of his position in the contract talks remain unchanged.
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Hendrickson informed Rutledge that he and the organization are in agreement regarding the overall average annual salary and the contract duration.
The primary issue remains the guaranteed money in a possible extension, as Cincinnati has taken the position of not offering guaranteed compensation beyond the first year, causing negotiations to reach an impasse.
At the offseason’s outset, the Bengals allowed Hendrickson to look for a team interested in acquiring the All-Pro edge rusher, but up to now, no deals have emerged.
The four-time Pro Bowler, who will celebrate his 31st birthday this fall, is due to earn $16 million this season. He concluded his holdout on July 30 and has been with the squad since, although he has not engaged in practice.
He is coming off a career-best season, having led the NFL with 17.5 total sacks in 2024. Hendrickson’s remarks on Monday are among the few he has offered since resuming training camp following his holdout. He has yet to practice with the Bengals while both parties work to address the contract conflict.
«Recognition is not what I’m pursuing,» Hendrickson stated on July 30. «It’s not. I’ve made my position clear. Security is important to me, along with being able to tell my wife where we’ll play. Those are the priorities for me.»
