Bengals' Trey Hendrickson Reportedly Skips Mandatory Minicamp Amid Contract Dispute

Cincinnati Bengals superstar pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson will not attend mandatory minicamp this week amid his desire for a new contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The 30-year-old isn't the only Bengals player not practicing on Tuesday, as Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported rookie Shemar Stewart has yet to agree to a contract and won't be on the field.

Hendrickson has made it clear on numerous occasions this offseason that he wants a new deal after finishing second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.

Last month, the four-time Pro Bowler told reporters that he will not play for the Bengals in 2025 without a new deal.

Last offseason, Hendrickson requested a trade due to a lack of progress on a new contract. The Bengals decided against it, and he eventually walked back his demand and agreed to play for the team in 2024.

The veteran thrived, as he matched the career high in sacks he set in 2023 with 17.5, plus he added 46 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, six passes defended and two forced fumbles.

Hendrickson was named a Pro Bowler for the fourth consecutive year as a result, and he earned his first career first-team All-Pro nod.

The Bengals had a high-powered offense last season led by quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but they went just 9-8 and missed the playoffs for a second straight season.

Cincinnati's defensive struggles were the biggest reason why, as the team ranked 25th in both total defense and scoring defense.

Hendrickson was among the lone bright spots for the Bengals on the defensive side of the ball, and they can ill afford to be without him in 2025.

Chase, Higgins and tight end Mike Gesicki all got new contracts with the Bengals this offseason, but the Hendrickson saga continues to drag out, and there is no end in sight.

Last month, Hendrickson said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor sent him a text message informing him that missing minicamp would result in fines, and the player didn't take kindly to it, telling reporters:

"We've tried to keep it as least amount as personal as possible, but at some point in this process it's becomes personal. Being sent 30 days before mandatory camp, or how many ever days it is, that if I don't show up I will be fined alludes to the fact that something won't get done in that time frame."

Minicamp has now arrived, and seemingly no additional progress has been made between Hendrickson and the Bengals, proving his suspicions right.

As of now, Hendrickson is under contract for only one more season before being eligible to hit free agency next offseason, so it is understandable why he wants to secure his future now.

Caving and agreeing to play under his current deal in 2025 presents potential issues for Hendrickson since the Bengals have made regular use of the franchise tag in recent years and could place it on him at the end of the 2025 season to again avoid negotiating a new deal.

However, if the Florida Atlantic product gets a new deal or is traded, the threat of the franchise tag goes away.

For now, the Bengals and Hendrickson appear to be stuck in a stalemate, and if no progress is made over the next few months, a holdout that bleeds into the regular season is a real possibility, much like Haason Reddick with the New York Jets last year.