Joe Burrow Talks 'Disappointing' Bengals Contract Disputes with Hendrickson, Stewart

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow isn't thrilled with the protracted standoffs that are keeping defensive ends Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart out of training camp.

The two-time Pro Bowler called the situation "obviously disappointing."

"You'd like to have all your guys out there Day 1 to try to build that cohesion that I was talking about earlier, but that's not how it usually works out," he told reporters. "You know, it's a business. And that is how it's gone."

Hendrickson is looking for a new contract that will pay him more in line with the best edge-rushers in the league. He's coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons, so his $15.8 million base salary is well below his market value.

Stewart, meanwhile, has yet to sign his rookie contract because of haggling over the finer details of the deal.

Hendrickson told The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. and Dianna Russini he and Cincinnati are at a stalemate over guaranteed dollars. He went on to say he believes it's best to stay as far away as possible, which meant traveling to his home in Jacksonville, Florida, rather than remaining in Cincy.

"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," he said. "I don't want to ruin the other 10 guys' 2025 season on my contract language."

Keeping Burrow happy was likely a factor behind the $276 million in combined money the Bengals handed out to wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Whatever goodwill the Bengals built thanks to re-signing Chase and Higgins is quickly eroding because of how they're approaching Hendrickson and Stewart. The latter in particular makes for a bad look when NFL players are historically underpaid already on their first contracts.

If you're a Bengals player such as Burrow, the way Cincinnati is handling all of this may lead you to question how committed ownership actually is to winning a Super Bowl.