Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson ended his brief holdout and reported to training camp on Wednesday, seeking to minimize distractions for the team.
"As we continue to go through this process, I plan on handling it with respect to Zac Taylor, to the 2025 Bengals, and not being a distraction in any way, shape or form," Hendrickson said from the locker room on Wednesday, via WCPO-TV, his first day back with the club.
Hendrickson has been in a years-long contract dispute with the Bengals regarding a long-term extension. The issue ramped up this offseason with the reigning sack leader looking for more guaranteed money than the Bengals were willing to offer at this point.
The 30-year-old was set to report to training camp last week, but instead flew back home to Florida after sides couldn't agree on a contract.
A week later, he reported without a new deal.
"Things are exactly the same," Hendrickson told reporters on Wednesday. "What I'm [going to do], as best as I can, is avoid being a distraction. I want to help the guys. The guys who have helped me along the way -- Demario Davis, Cam Jordan, even Sam Hubbard helped me a lot when I was here. To be that right now I think is most important, and this narrative will kind of iron itself out as we continue to progress."
Hendrickson is set to enter the final year of his contract earning a base salary of $15.8 million. His deal pales in comparison to other pass rushers of his ilk who have inked this offseason -- including Steelers 30-year-old edge rusher T.J. Watt's record-setting $41 million-per-year deal.
Hendrickson said the plan has always been not to play out his current deal in Cincinnati.
"Not only have I mentioned it multiple times this offseason, but also I believe ownership has as well," he said. "That there are plans on not having to play under the current deal. So I think that's something we have a common goal to get to. That's the plan moving forward. No distractions. I'm excited to be here."
If that's the plan, Hendrickson might be forced to accept the Bengals' best offer, even if it's below what he believes he's earned. The pass rusher attempted to force a trade, to no avail. He tried holding out -- that didn't work. Last year, he threatened to retire.
Missing the first week of camp shouldn't put Hendrickson behind much -- other than the dent to his pocketbook via mandatory fines of $50,000 per day missed.
"I'm always ready. I think that's something I take a lot of pride in training hard in the offseason, getting bigger, faster, stronger," he said. "How I train, I'm not worried about. If I'm going to be ready, I'm not worried about it. Hopefully, everything works out so that we don't have to worry about anything like that."
We'll see if Hendrickson inks that extension before the start of the 2025 season and where the dollars land -- particularly the full guarantee.
