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Ben Child
CINCINNATI — The final main contract concern for the Cincinnati Bengals may very well be inching nearer to a decision.
All-Professional defensive finish Trey Hendrickson is about to finish his holdout and report for coaching camp on Wednesday, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Hendrickson has been absent for the group’s first week of exercises as he tries to land a contract extension forward of the upcoming season.
Hendrickson was formally positioned on the group’s didn’t report checklist on July 23, someday after the remainder of the group’s veterans arrived. Based on the phrases of the present collective bargaining settlement between the league and the NFL Gamers Affiliation, Hendrickson may be fined a most of $50,000 for every day missed. Had Hendrickson’s holdout included missed preseason video games, he additionally was topic to dropping a few of his base wage for the 2025 marketing campaign.
However maybe most significantly, Hendrickson’s determination to affix the Bengals for coaching camp might assist create motion within the stalemate.
Based on a supply, Hendrickson’s impending arrival serves as a very good religion gesture to spark negotiations with the group.
Hendrickson, who will flip 31 this season, is the reigning NFL sack chief. He was named to the Related Press All-Professional group after main the league with 17.5 sacks. He was additionally named a Professional Bowl choice for the fourth straight season.
The previous Florida Atlantic standout is about to earn $16 million in money. Hendrickson is looking for a long-term extension with assured cash that extends previous the primary yr. The group has lately made a suggestion in hopes of attempting to get Hendrickson on board this season.
If the 2 sides can get the difficulty resolved, the Bengals will lastly have their full complement of gamers for the primary time since final season ended.
Hendrickson skipped the entire group’s offseason exercises due to the contract state of affairs. Rookie defensive finish Shemar Stewart, the group’s first-round decide in April’s draft, signed his rookie contract on Saturday, ending a months-long dispute with the group.