Cincinnati Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson formally reported to training camp on Wednesday and said nothing has changed per his contract status.
Hendrickson has been seeking a new deal all offseason and isn’t going to practice with the team until the situation is resolved.
Hendrickson said nothing has changed regarding his contract. He is slated to make $15.8 million in base salary in 2025.
“There are plans on not having to play on the current deal,” Hendrickson said after Wednesday’s practice. “That’s something we have a common goal to get to. That’s the plan moving forward. No distractions. I am excited to be here.”
Hendrickson said the main reason he reported was so he wouldn’t be a distraction.
“I want to help the guys, the guys that have helped me along the way,” Hendrickson said. “(Teammates) Demario Davis, Cam Jordan, even Sam Hubbard helped me a lot when I was here. To be that, right now, I think that’s what’s most important. This (contract) narrative will kinda iron itself out as we continue to progress towards the season.”
Cincinnati star quarterback Joe Burrow was happy to see Hendrickson on the premises.
“Whenever you can have a guy like that in the building, who’s not (playing), it’s good to see his face, it’s good to have his presence,” Burrow told reporters. “He’s going to be a big, big part of this team this year. Just to have him around made a big difference in the energy around here.”
The four-time Pro Bowl defensive end has been seeking a big contract extension.
Hendrickson, 30, led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5. He has 35 over the past two seasons and 57 in four seasons with the Bengals.
The two sides have been in a stalemate all offseason. In mid-May, Hendrickson told reporters he wouldn’t play this season unless he received a bump in pay.
Hendrickson apparently craves an increase in pay that will place him in the higher echelon of defensive players. Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt just landed the highest annual average salary ($41 million) in history for a defensive player.
Over the offseason, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ($40 million AAV) and Los Angeles Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby ($35.5 million) also landed huge deals.
“This is the guy that has the most sacks over the last two years,” Burrow said of Hendrickson. “Production is value in this league. I know you can think you’re such a good player, but to not have any production doesn’t really matter. So when you have a guy like that, you want to reward him.”
Hendrickson has been a Pro Bowl selection in all four of his seasons with Cincinnati. He played his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, serving as a backup for the first three campaigns.
Hendrickson has 77 sacks, 220 tackles and 14 forced fumbles in 110 games (81 starts).
–Field Level Media
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