For a second straight offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals have returned for their offseason program with a major cloud over the club: The future of Trey Hendrickson.As he did a season ago, Bengals franchise quarterback Joe Burrow is defending the team’s star defensive end’s desires to get a new deal with the team.“He’s a guy that deserves to get paid what he wants and what the market is,” Burrow said Tuesday, when he held his first press conference of the offseason.The NFL’s sack leader in 2024, Hendrickson has made the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons in the Queen City. With the Bengals, the Florida Atlantic product has recorded 57 sacks and was named a first-team All-Pro last season.Aside from the contract extensions for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, much of the air of the Bengals offseason has been taken up by the talks, or lack thereof, between the Bengals’ front office and Hendrickson.Last week, Hendrickson and his team sent a statement to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, saying the two sides have had “no communication” since the draft.”Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating,” his statement read. “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.” A day after that statement was made public, Hendrickson spoke with reporters to voice his displeasure with how discussions have gone as the rest of the team conducted drills behind him as part of the offseason program.When asked about Hendrickson’s impromptu press conference, Burrow threw his support behind his teammate.”I think he’s doing what he thinks is best for his career. And I support him in that,” Burrow said. “Trey’s a smart guy. Just like anybody, I’m sure there’s things he’d like to have back, but he’s very thought out in his process and what he’s trying to do and, so, if he thinks that’s the way to go, that’s the way to go.”

CINCINNATI —

For a second straight offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals have returned for their offseason program with a major cloud over the club: The future of Trey Hendrickson.

As he did a season ago, Bengals franchise quarterback Joe Burrow is defending the team’s star defensive end’s desires to get a new deal with the team.

“He’s a guy that deserves to get paid what he wants and what the market is,” Burrow said Tuesday, when he held his first press conference of the offseason.

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Burrow on Trey Hendrickson: “He’s a guy that deserves to get paid what he wants and what the market is.”@WLWT

— Jaron May (@jaron_may) May 20, 2025

The NFL’s sack leader in 2024, Hendrickson has made the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons in the Queen City. With the Bengals, the Florida Atlantic product has recorded 57 sacks and was named a first-team All-Pro last season.

Aside from the contract extensions for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, much of the air of the Bengals offseason has been taken up by the talks, or lack thereof, between the Bengals’ front office and Hendrickson.

Last week, Hendrickson and his team sent a statement to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, saying the two sides have had “no communication” since the draft.

“Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating,” his statement read. “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.”

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Zac Taylor says he talked to Trey Hendrickson when he was here in Cincinnati last week.

Says he puts a lot of time and thought into how he communicates with players.

Will Trey Hendrickson be here for mandatory minicamp? “We’ll see.”

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) May 20, 2025

A day after that statement was made public, Hendrickson spoke with reporters to voice his displeasure with how discussions have gone as the rest of the team conducted drills behind him as part of the offseason program.

When asked about Hendrickson’s impromptu press conference, Burrow threw his support behind his teammate.

“I think he’s doing what he thinks is best for his career. And I support him in that,” Burrow said. “Trey’s a smart guy. Just like anybody, I’m sure there’s things he’d like to have back, but he’s very thought out in his process and what he’s trying to do and, so, if he thinks that’s the way to go, that’s the way to go.”