The Cincinnati Bengals did not place the franchise tag on defensive end Trey Hendrickson ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to do so, making the veteran a free agent.Hendrickson made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons in Cincinnati from 2021-24, but injuries limited him to seven games in 2025.Hendrickson had four sacks and three tackles for loss when he did play in 2025, which were far from the 17.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss he collected in 2024.After months of speculation last offseason, including missed training camp practices, Hendrickson signed a one-year extension for the 2025 season that paid him $30 million.Now, the Bengals are set to see Hendrickson walk in free agency and in all likelihood, sign with another team when free agency begins next week.All NFL teams are granted the option to use one franchise tag on a player with an expiring contract, which keeps the player under team control for one more season.With Hendrickson now a free agent, the Bengals will lean on Myles Murphy as one of their starting defensive ends, with reinforcements likely coming through free agency and the draft in April.Hendrickson shared a statement to social media after the decision on Tuesday, expressing his gratitude for five seasons spent with the Bengals.”Thank you for the opportunity to play the game I love at the highest level,” Hendrickson wrote. “The last 5 years have been filled with great wins and tough losses. Personal achievements and humbling adversities. I was & always will be proud to have worn the Cincinnati Bengals logo & honor the history behind it.”

CINCINNATI —

The Cincinnati Bengals did not place the franchise tag on defensive end Trey Hendrickson ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to do so, making the veteran a free agent.

Hendrickson made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons in Cincinnati from 2021-24, but injuries limited him to seven games in 2025.

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Hendrickson had four sacks and three tackles for loss when he did play in 2025, which were far from the 17.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss he collected in 2024.

After months of speculation last offseason, including missed training camp practices, Hendrickson signed a one-year extension for the 2025 season that paid him $30 million.

Now, the Bengals are set to see Hendrickson walk in free agency and in all likelihood, sign with another team when free agency begins next week.

All NFL teams are granted the option to use one franchise tag on a player with an expiring contract, which keeps the player under team control for one more season.

With Hendrickson now a free agent, the Bengals will lean on Myles Murphy as one of their starting defensive ends, with reinforcements likely coming through free agency and the draft in April.

Hendrickson shared a statement to social media after the decision on Tuesday, expressing his gratitude for five seasons spent with the Bengals.

“Thank you for the opportunity to play the game I love at the highest level,” Hendrickson wrote. “The last 5 years have been filled with great wins and tough losses. Personal achievements and humbling adversities. I was & always will be proud to have worn the Cincinnati Bengals logo & honor the history behind it.”