Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp Update
This week, something felt off as Cincinnati Bengals veterans gathered for training camp—star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson was notably absent. Reports confirmed he is not attending camp while negotiating for a contract extension.
The official start of training camp is set for Wednesday, and as of now, it appears Hendrickson might not be in Ohio. He shared a glimpse of his travels on social media, showing himself driving down the highways in Florida. It’s interesting, right? We don’t know where he’s headed, though; that’s still a mystery.
Hendrickson has skipped all offseason activities leading up to camp. It’s worth noting he had quite the season last year, finishing with 17.5 sacks, placing him at the top of the NFL. Currently, his contract runs through 2025, which adds some weight to his desire for an extension.
Discussions about his contract have apparently hit a snag regarding guaranteed money, especially after several key pass rushers secured big deals this offseason. For instance, Miles Garrett recently landed an eye-opening extension worth around $123.5 million in guarantees.
Interestingly, Hendrickson was in Cincinnati back in May during offseason training and even mentioned to a reporter that he wouldn’t be eager to hit the field under his current deal.
Team president Mike Brown had some insights recently, calling Hendrickson a “good guy” but also describing the negotiation process as tricky. He remarked that while they appreciate Hendrickson as a person, negotiating with him can bring out some strong emotions.
As for head coach Zach Taylor, he touched on the dynamics between Hendrickson and rookie lineman Shemar Stewart, who also missed camp due to contract issues. Taylor differentiated their situations, suggesting that veterans like Hendrickson bring experience that the team values, while rookies are still in the proving stage.
The Bengals are gearing up for their regular season opener against the Browns on September 7th. It seems the unfolding contract discussions might add some extra layer of tension as the season approaches.
