CINCINNATI, Aug. 1, 2025 — The Cincinnati Bengals are facing a preseason crisis on the defensive line, with both a star veteran and a highly touted rookie holding out for new contracts.
Two key defensive linemen are absent from Bengals training camp as contract disputes loom before the NFL season.
- Veteran defensive end Trey Hendrickson is seeking a more lucrative deal, while rookie Shemar Stewart is demanding a fully guaranteed contract.
- Hendrickson’s current contract, a four-year, $60 million deal signed in 2021, ended after a season where he recorded 17.5 sacks and earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
- Stewart, a rookie defensive end, is holding out because he wants his entire $18.97 million rookie contract to be fully guaranteed.
- Bengals owner Mike Brown expressed a stark view, stating the team would not pay someone “to sit in jail.”
Defensive Line Woes Grip Bengals Camp
The Cincinnati Bengals are already grappling with significant defensive line issues before the NFL season even kicks off. Veteran defensive end Trey Hendrickson and rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart are both absent from training camp, each holding out for contract agreements.
Hendrickson, who joined the Bengals in 2021 on a four-year, $60 million contract, is seeking an improved deal. His previous contract concluded after a standout season where he logged 17.5 sacks and was recognized as an All-Pro. He has also been a consistent Pro Bowl selection during his tenure with Cincinnati. The team had previously granted him permission to explore trade options in March 2025, but negotiations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, Stewart’s absence stems from a contract dispute over guaranteed money. As a rookie, his contract is predetermined by draft position, valued at $18.97 million. However, he is pushing for the entirety of this sum to be fully guaranteed. Bengals owner Mike Brown commented on the situation, hypothetically stating, “we’re not going to be paying someone who’s sitting in jail.”
Trey Hendrickson is looking for more guarantees in his contract. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Hendrickson is currently training in Jacksonville. Unlike Stewart’s demand for full guarantee, Hendrickson is looking for guarantees extending beyond the first year of a potential new contract. Turning 31 this season, the Bengals appear reluctant to offer a long-term, heavily guaranteed deal, likely due to concerns about potential age-related performance decline.
Hendrickson’s contract expectations are influenced by the compensation received by other prominent edge rushers. T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers secured a record-setting extension with nearly fully guaranteed money. Similarly, Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders and Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns have inked extensions that include significant guaranteed funds across multiple seasons.
Quarterback Joe Burrow acknowledged the impact of their absences, calling the situation “disappointing.” The Bengals, who reached the Super Bowl in 2022, have managed only one playoff appearance in the three seasons since.
The team’s chances of returning to the postseason are diminished without Hendrickson and Stewart on the defensive front. The duration of these holdouts remains uncertain, but both players appear committed to foregoing crucial preparation time, and possibly even regular-season games, to secure their desired contract terms.
