Bengals' Trey Hendrickson Slams Organization, Signals Exit From Team

The Cincinnati Bengals made it a point to draw up big extensions for star wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. However, one star player that was left out is pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.

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Hendrickson requested a trade before the 2024 regular season began, and it appears he is right back to the same place in 2025. The star defensive end spoke to ESPN to vent his frustration with the Bengals, and is signaling an end with the team per his very strong message.

Adam Schefter shared the comment from Hendrickson, which states:

"No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post-draft. The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. Coaches are aware of these past conversations.

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"Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that's hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals."

Hendrickson is right to be frustrated, considering how incredible the past two seasons have been for him. He secured 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons, proving that he is one of the most disruptive defensive ends in the game.

The 17.5 sacks were good for first among pass rushers in 2024, and Hendrickson only trailed T.J. Watt in 2023, who secured 19 sacks.

Despite the massive sack counts for Hendrickson, he remains without a new extension, and it appears that the Bengals have chosen to focus on their receiving duo.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow expressed deeply that he wanted the organization to keep Chase, Higgins, and Hendrickson, going so far as to say the organization has the money to do so. That is clearly not the case right now, as communication has broken down between Hendrickson and Cincinnati.

Hendrickson might still remain with the Bengals, but his comments could be the proverbial nail in the coffin between him and the team. Teams can often play hardball and take their time with extensions, but players can see the time taken as disrespect.

Hendrickson has been vocal about his displeasure with not receiving a new contract over the last two seasons, and he could be finding himself with a new team in 2025.

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