For Cincinnati Bengals fans hoping to see star defensive end Trey Hendrickson back in an orange-and-black uniform in 2026, Saturday brought a devastating update to his status with the franchise.
With tensions growing between the four-time Pro Bowl and one-time All-Pro selection and the franchise, reports on Saturday indicated that Hendrickson is expected to be on his way out of Cincinnati this coming offseason after spending five seasons with the organization.
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“The Bengals are always good for a few surprises, but a franchise tag for defensive end Trey Hendrickson would be a mild surprise to me,” wrote ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “The relationship has essentially run its course, and the tag will be well above $30 million.”
Trey Hendrickson Likely Done With Bengals
This news likely comes as no surprise to anyone who has followed the relationship between Hendrickson and the franchise, but Bengals fans were holding out hope that a solution could be found. Hendrickson has been rumored to be the focus of an upcoming trade or free-agent deal, as his contract with Cincinnati expires, and the situation was not helped by his injury-plagued 2025 season.
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Hendrickson was permitted to seek a trade last offseason, but struggled to find a landing spot that could be worked out. After contract negotiations stalled, he held out of training camp before eventually restructuring his contract with the Bengals. He has recorded 236 tackles and 81 sacks over his nine-year NFL career.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Bengals set to part ways with All-Pro DE in momentous free agency move