Trey Hendrickson begins a holdout from Bengals 2024 training camp, facing hefty fines. Can Cincinnati resolve the contract dispute with their star pass rusher?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The day Bengals fans had been dreading is here. As training camp kicked off on Tuesday, the team's most fearsome pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, was nowhere to be seen. Instead of hitting the practice field in Cincinnati, Hendrickson was posting on Instagram from Florida, confirming he is officially holding out and casting a massive shadow over a season that was supposed to be about redemption.
The price of principle is steep: Hendrickson now faces daily fines of $50,000 for every day of training camp he misses.
The standoff between Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals' front office isn't a surprise, but its reality stings. The core of the dispute is long-term security. While the Bengals have reportedly put a one-year extension on the table, Hendrickson is seeking a multi-year commitment with significant guaranteed money, something the team has been hesitant to provide. Owner Mike Brown expressed hope for a resolution, but with Hendrickson confirming his absence to ESPN, the two sides remain at an impasse. For now, the Bengals are without the player who has been the heart and soul of their pass rush, and the meter is running on his fines.
Compounding the defensive drama, the Bengals are also at a deadlock with defensive tackle Stewart. While Hendrickson's dispute is about dollars and years, Stewart's issue is reportedly about contract language, specifically clauses that could void future guarantees based on off-field incidents. While a different problem, the result is the same: another key piece of the defensive front is missing. The absence of two starters creates a gaping hole in the trenches and raises serious questions about the defense's ability to compete as camp gets underway.
Spare a thought for new defensive coordinator Al Golden. Hired to rebuild a defense that cratered in 2024, Golden is now tasked with doing so without his top pass rusher and a starting defensive tackle. His mission to stabilize a struggling unit and replace former DC Lou Anarumo just got exponentially harder. The current situation is the first major test of Golden's leadership and adaptability. How he schemes around these absences and motivates the players who *are* in camp will be critical in preventing the defense from falling into another early-season hole.
With two crucial defensive players out and the front office locked in tense negotiations, the start of training camp feels less like a beginning and more like a crisis. The Bengals' ability to resolve these disputes quickly will determine whether the team can truly rebound from last year's disappointment or if the 2025 season will be defined by off-field drama before a single meaningful snap is played. All eyes are on the front office – the clock is ticking.
