It would appear that there’s trouble in paradise with the Cincinnati Bengals. Shortly after the football season ended, The Ohio based franchise signed it’s top wide receivers, Ja’marr Chase and Tee Higgins to lucrative contracts with Chase’s contract making him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Edge rusher, Trey Hendrickson is another player that has been embroiled in contract talks with the Bengals but it seems those talks have gone sour and Hendrickson might be on his way out of Ohio. The ex-Florida Atlantic player has spoken up about the tensions between him and the club.
Are the Bengals Risking a Locker Room Fallout With Ex-Ohio Star Trey Hendrickson?
It is never a good look if there’s friction between a player and the administration as the tensions could filter through the locker room, and this is a recipe for disaster, one which most teams always try to avoid. While Hendrickson maintained that he would love to stay with the Bengals, it appears that the team are playing hard ball and this hasn’t gone down well with the edge rusher.
In the latest turn of events, days after Hendrickson sent a public statement to ESPN about the lack of communication from the Bengals, the defensive end met with local media following a recent practice session to continue airing his grievances publicly, and even claimed that he’s been threatened by head coach Zac Taylor if he doesn’t show up ready to practice later this offseason, whether he’s gotten a new contract or not.
Trey Hendrickson said he received a text from HC Zac Taylor 30 days before mandatory minicamp warning he’d be fined if he didn’t show up, something that frustrated him, especially given the poor communication from the team throughout the offseason.
Hendrickson also made it… pic.twitter.com/utWNgJHWsy
— Bussin’ With The Boys (@BussinWTB) May 13, 2025
When asked by the reporters if he’d be willing to play this coming season under his current contract expiring after the year, Hendrickson replied, “No,” and gave no further explanation. His current contract is worth up to $21 million annually.
While the initial talks was strictly about contract details between Hendrickson and the front office, the defensive end feels that the latest action from his head coach has made things personal.
“A little bit transpired between me and Zac,” Hendrickson said. “We’ve tried to keep it as least amount as personal as possible, but at some point in this process, it’s become 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.”
KEEP READING: Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson’s College Football Days at FAU Shaped His No-Glove Pass-Rushing Style
It is best for all parties of the issue is resolved as soon as possible but it seems there’s no way back after this and a trade away from Cincinnati might be the best solution for all involved.
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