Trey Hendrickson stirred more locker room buzz this week with a short and cryptic Instagram post.
“1 Corinthians 16:13”— Trey Hendrickson on IG
Cincinnati Bengals Trey Hendrickson
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates a stop in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. The Bengals won 19-17 to finish the regular season at 9-8.
That Bible verse “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith” comes amid tense contract talks between Hendrickson and the Bengals. The four-time Pro Bowler, fresh off a career-high 17.5 sacks, skipped mandatory minicamp and has made it clear he won’t play this season under his current deal.
Cincinnati insider Albert Breer called the holdout “unpredictable,” noting it’s the third straight year Hendrickson enters camp without a long-term contract, even after giving the Bengals 35 sacks over the past two seasons.
Adding to the drama, reports say his camp told the team they could land a first-round pick if they part ways, though age concerns, as he turns 31 in December, might complicate that path.
Trey Hendrickson
Cincinnati Bengals Trey Hendrickson speaks at a press conference after practice, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in Downtown Cincinnati.
Meanwhile, he’s been spotted back in Cincinnati as training camp nears, signaling both sides may be inching toward a deal. Bleacher Report estimates a three-year, $130.5 million contract could be on the table, but “each passing week, that appears less likely.”
The quote may just be one more prayer. A statement of where his hopeful direction would point to. Hendrickson is staying composed, but firm by letting the Bible speak louder than salary leaks. If anyone needs a sign he’s serious, that verse might be it. Bengals fans now wait to see if faith and football collide, or if both are about to part ways.
NFL Insider: Trey Hendrickson-Bengals Situation Remains ‘Unpredictable’
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated dug into Trey Hendrickson’s standoff and called it a “wild” one.
“The Trey Hendrickson situation remains, I’d say, unpredictable,” Breer wrote. “This is the third consecutive offseason that Cincinnati’s been here with a player who’s posted 35 sacks over the past two years… So it seems pretty unlikely he’s going to be cutting the team any breaks.”– Albert Breer, SI
Breer laid out the tension: Hendrickson skipped mandatory minicamp, has seen guys like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins land rich extensions, and now finds himself competing with Maxx Crosby and Danielle Hunter in a market pushing mid‑$30 million APY.
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Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) holds up his finger after a defensive stop with 4 seconds left in the second half the NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, at Empower Field in Denver, Co. Cincinnati Bengals defeated Denver Broncos 15-10.
Adding fuel, there’s talk his camp floated trade value equivalent to a first-round draft pick—though NFL insiders warn, age and cap space may not make that realistic.
It’s a high-stakes dance: Bengals need Core Edge production for a better defense; Hendrickson wants a deal that matches his market value. And Trey Hendrickson hasn’t budged yet. With camp closing in, the tension isn’t just contract talk—it’s the kind of standoff that can define careers.
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