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Trey Hendrickson  • DE  •  Bengals

Trey Hendrickson, Bengals Restart Contract Discussions

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Bengals and defensive end Trey Hendrickson have resumed discussions surrounding a new contract. The 30-year-old has been a force on the defensive side of the ball, amassing 35 sacks in the last two seasons combined. As expected, he wants a new deal. Although things at least appeared promising when talks between both sides began, the situation went south quickly, with Hendrickson recently skipping mandatory minicamp. The Bengals have one of the best offenses in the National Football League. However, it's a different story as it pertains to the team's defense. Rookie Shemar Stewart has also been absent while awaiting a contract to his liking, which indirectly has increased the urgency to get a new deal done for Hendrickson. With that in mind, there is renewed hope that negotiations are heading in a positive direction. On the other hand, there is still plenty of time for that to change.
4 days ago   
Shemar Stewart  • DE  •  Bengals

Shemar Stewart Leaves Minicamp Without Contract

Cincinnati Bengals rookie first-round defensive end Shemar Stewart remains unsigned and has left mandatory minicamp this week, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. Stewart had been attending offseason team activities, but without being signed and with the Bengals asking for certain clauses, he has left. Because he's not under contract, the 21-year-old pass-rusher won't be subject to fines for missing mandatory minicamp. This situation will most certainly be handled sooner than later, but the young defensive end is missing valuable reps as he heads into his first NFL season in 2025. Stewart was taken with the 17th overall pick back in late April, and the Bengals could need him even more if All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson's holdout extends into the regular season or if he's traded.
Jun 12   
Trey Hendrickson  • DE  •  Bengals

Trey Hendrickson Not in Attendance at Mandatory Minicamp

Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson is not attending mandatory minicamp this week as he seeks a long-term contract extension, a source tells The Athletic's Jeff Howe. Hendrickson hasn't practiced at all with the team this season and said that he is willing to hold out into the regular season if the Bengals don't give him what he wants after back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons. The Bengals gave the 30-year-old four-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher permission to seek a trade back in March, but nothing materialized with the Bengals' asking price being extremely high. The Bengals struggled on defense in 2024 in spite of Hendrickson's elite pass-rushing contributions, but they are definitely a better team with him than without him. In IDP fantasy formats, Hendrickson's value could drop as the regular season approaches if he remains unsigned.
Jun 10   
Germaine Pratt  • LB  •  Bengals

Bengals Releasing Germaine Pratt

ESPN's Ben Baby reports that the Cincinnati Bengals are releasing linebacker Germaine Pratt ahead of the team's mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. Cincinnati drafted Pratt with the ninth pick in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he's appeared in 15 or more games in each of his six seasons, including 34 straight starts over the previous two. The 29-year-old tallied a career-high -- and team-leading -- 143 tackles (80 solo) in 2024, with two picks, two forced fumbles, and two recovered fumbles. Pratt formally requested a trade back in February, but after the Bengals could not find a suitable partner, they decided to cut ties with him. It seems favorable that he'll draw interest from another linebacker-needy organization.
Jun 9   
Tee Higgins  • WR  •  Bengals

Tee Higgins Trying to Prevent Injuries

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins said that he changed his offseason regimen looking to prevent injuries while also focusing on both speed and strength. "Get my muscles right. Make sure I know what I'm doing muscles-wise," said Higgins, who returned to his usual offseason trainer in Miami. "I did a lot of everything. I was on the track a lot. I was in the weight room a lot weightlifting." Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson writes that the 26-year-old is looking as sleek as ever after missing five games in 2024 due to soft-tissue injuries. Despite missing five games last year, Higgins caught 73 passes (one shy of his career-high) for 911 receiving yards and a career-best 10 touchdowns in 12 games (nine starts). There will be even more expectations on Higgins to stay healthy after he signed a four-year, $115 million extension in March. Higgins has never played in a full season, but if he does, he should have a great shot at reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the third time in six seasons.
Jun 7   
Zack Moss  • RB  •  Bengals

Zack Moss Taking Part in OTAs

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (neck) was active and participating in the first voluntary organized team activity session on Tuesday. Moss played in only eight games (six starts) with the Bengals last year before landing on Injured Reserve with a neck injury. The 27-year-old averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry on 74 rushing attempts for 242 yards and two touchdowns before his season-ending injury. However, the Bengals only took running back Tahj Brooks in the sixth round of this year's draft and signed Samaje Perine in free agency, so Moss has a solid chance of opening the 2025 campaign as the top backup to Chase Brown. If Moss looks the same as he did last year with Cincinnati, though, both Perine and Brooks could jump him on the depth chart. At best, Moss is a handcuff option in the later rounds for those that select Brown.
May 29   
Chase Brown  • RB  •  Bengals

Chase Brown Seen Practicing Tuesday

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (ankle) was photographed participating in Tuesday's OTAs. Brown had injured his ankle during Week 17 against the Denver Broncos last season, and it was enough to sideline him for the team's regular season finale in Week 18. Now, though, nearly five months later, it appears Brown is healthy. That's good news for Bengals fans and fantasy managers alike, as Brown finished his 2024 campaign with 1,350 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns. He was the overall RB10 in PPR leagues despite opening the year as the No. 2 running back and missing Week 18. Productive as a ball carrier and pass catcher, Brown should be a full-go for Week 1, allowing him to rank as a mid-to-low RB1 in fantasy football.
May 28   
Jermaine Burton  • WR  •  Bengals

Jermaine Burton Showing Maturity

Cincinnati Bengals second-year wide receiver Jermaine Burton, who is coming off a tumultuous rookie campaign that saw him suspended, evicted and left behind on a road trip, has slowly made an impression on quarterback Joe Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor, according to The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. Burrow has pointed out Burton's growth in "maturity" as he handles his business this spring. "All he can handle is the present at this point," Taylor said. "I think he's done a good job of that this offseason. He's been in the building. He's in the building outside of work hours, doing his own thing, prehabbing to get his body right. He has attacked practice the right way, and that is what you can control right now, so I appreciate that much." It's a step in the right direction for the 23-year-old former third-rounder, but Burton has a ways to go to get back in the team's good graces.
May 22   
Joe Burrow  • QB  •  Bengals

Joe Burrow Says he Feels Great Physically

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is 100% physically this offseason. "I feel great," Burrow said. "This is the best that I've felt in the offseason. Just like every year, trying to get better, trying to get stronger, faster, healthier. Try to find ways that you can optimize your health throughout the whole season, not hurt as much. I'm in a good spot." Last year at this time, Burrow was worried about his "football mortality" and was recovering from surgery he had on his right wrist that impacted him early on. The 28-year-old posted career-highs in completion percentage (71%), passing yards (4,918) and TD:INT ratio (43:9) in 2024 despite missing out on the playoffs. Rushing prowess isn't part of Burrow's game, but the passing volume should be there to give him top-five QB upside in fantasy with excellent aerial targets.
May 22   
Shemar Stewart  • DE  •  Bengals

Shemar Stewart Away From Team Amid Contract Dispute

Cincinnati Bengals first-round rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart will remain away from the team for Phase 2 of the team's offseason workouts that start on Tuesday due to a disagreement over contract language in his rookie deal, according to FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. The 21-year-old was the 17th overall pick in this year's NFL draft, and he's reportedly requesting that his contract language be the same as the team's last two first-round selections. Stewart is missing important repetitions before his rookie season, but it would be a surprise if his holdout lasted deep into the summer for training camp. In addition to working out an agreement on Stewart's rookie deal, the Bengals are tied up in a disagreement over a long-term contract extension for All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson this offseason.
May 20   
Trey Hendrickson  • DE  •  Bengals

Trey Hendrickson Says He Won't Play Without A New Contract

When asked by Cincinnati Bengals beat writer Paul Dehner Jr. if he envisions any scenario where he will play in 2025 on his current deal, All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson said, "No." Although Hendrickson is present for the team's voluntary practice on Tuesday, he voiced his displeasure with the team's lack of communication with him on a potential long-term contract extension since the NFL draft in late April. The 30-year-old said that the Bengals have been pushing a short-term extension with Hendrickson after giving him permission to seek a trade back in March. It doesn't sound like Hendrickson is interested in a short-term deal, and this situation could get even messier if no progress is made closer to the start of the regular season this fall. Hendrickson has a $15.8 million base salary for 2025 after recording 17.5 sacks in each of the last two years.
May 13   
Trey Hendrickson  • DE  •  Bengals

Trey Hendrickson Attends Practice Tuesday, Not In Uniform

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson was seen arriving at the team facility prior to Tuesday's voluntary workout. However, he was not in uniform, and there was no indication that he would take the field for practice. Instead, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Hendrickson is in Cincinnati so that he can speak with the media about his ongoing contract saga. Earlier this week, Hendrickson released a statement claiming that the Bengals have not shown interest in engaging in extension talks since last month's NFL Draft. This development prompted fans and media to criticize the Bengals, who are certainly better when Hendrickson is on the field. One of the best defensive players in the NFL, Hendrickson registered 17.5 sacks last season, made the Pro Bowl, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
May 13   
Trey Hendrickson  • DE  •  Bengals

Trey Hendrickson Hasn't Had Communication With Bengals Recently

Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson said there hasn't been any communication with the team regarding a potential long-term contract extension "between my camp and the organization post draft." "The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. Coaches are aware of these past conversations. Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that's hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals," Hendrickson said in a statement. The Bengals continue to say they want to bring the 30-year-old back as he enters the final year of his current deal, but they've done nothing to back that up. It appears Hendrickson is running out of patience.
May 12   
B.J. Hill  • DT  •  Bengals

B.J. Hill Seen In Walking Boot At Tuesday's Workouts

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill (undisclosed) was seen at the team's facility wearing a walking boot, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. It's early in the offseason, so this should not be viewed as much of a concern, but the Bengals were ravaged by injuries on defense a season ago. Hill signed a three-year, $33 million contract to remain with the team this offseason. The former third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Giants out of NC State has spent the last three seasons with Cincy, racking up 154 tackles and 12.5 sacks in 46 games. The 30-year-old will be tasked with helping the team turn things around under new defensive coordinator Al Golden following a disastrous 2024 campaign for its stop unit.
May 6   
Samaje Perine  • RB  •  Bengals

Samaje Perine Expected To Have A Passing-Down Role

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine is expected to have a lesser version of the two-minute, passing-down role that he held near the end of his first tenure with the organization, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. Perine spent the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons with the Bengals and secured 38 receptions in his final season with the team. After a year with Denver and a year with Kansas City, he's back in Joe Burrow's offense and will have somewhat of a role in the backfield. However, the 29-year-old is likely well past his prime, and Chase Brown showed enough to have confidence in him as a starting fantasy football running back in 2025. Either way, Perine could be worth rostering in deeper PPR setups based on this report.
May 1   
Dax Hill  • CB  •  Bengals

Bengals Picking Up Fifth-Year Option On Dax Hill

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Cincinnati Bengals are picking up the fifth-year option on defensive back Dax Hill. This locks Hill into a projected $12.7 million salary for 2026. The former first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Michigan has played in 37 games (24 starts) for the Bengals, compiling 151 tackles (103 solo), two interceptions, 13 pass deflections, 2.5 sacks, and seven tackles for loss. Despite Hill suffering a torn ACL in Week 5 of the 2024 campaign, the organization is clearly optimistic about his recovery and potential in the future.
Apr 29   
Shemar Stewart  • DE  •  Bengals

Bengals Take Shemar Stewart 17th Overall

The Bengals added Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart to their defense with the No. 17 pick in the first round on Wednesday night. Stewart only had 4.5 sacks in his 37 college games, along with 65 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. However, he vaulted up draft boards with an impressive showing at the NFL Combine. He posted a perfect Relative Athletic Score (RAS) score and ranked near the top of the class in almost every physical measurement. The Bengals will now need to coach Stewart up to realize the most impact for his raw physical talent and develop him into a key part of their defense.
Apr 25   
Logan Woodside  • QB  •  Bengals

Bengals Bring Logan Woodside Back

The Cincinnati Bengals have signed veteran backup quarterback Logan Woodside to a one-year deal, according to NFL.com. The 30-year-old was signed by the Bengals last offseason and spent most of the 2024 campaign on the practice squad. Woodside, a former seventh-round pick by the Bengals out of Toledo, has completed four of his seven career passing attempts for 34 yards and one interception in 12 games with the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. At best, he'll likely stick around on the practice squad once again in 2025, but he could face an uphill battle to make the roster in any form.
Apr 16   
Andrei Iosivas  • WR  •  Bengals

Andrei Iosivas Adds Muscle This Offseason

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas has reportedly been bulking up over the offseason. The former sixth-round pick has reportedly added around 15 pounds of muscle. Iosivas is now at his ideal weight which is around 215-200 pounds. He says that he is feeling better, stronger, and moving faster than before. Iosivas quietly had a solid season with the Bengals this past season. He hauled in 36 receptions for 479 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 17 games (eight starts) in 2024. The Bengals obviously have Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins above him on the depth chart, but that doesn't mean Iosivas can't be an impact player. Hopefully the added weight will Iosivas feel more like himself as a receiver this upcoming season.
Apr 11   
Joe Giles-Harris  • LB  •  Bengals

Bengals Add Linebacker Joe Giles-Harris

The Cincinnati Bengals signed free-agent linebacker Joe Giles-Harris on Wednesday, according to the team on X. The veteran entered the NFL in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Duke and has spent time with five NFL organizations, appearing in 22 games for three of them. Overall, Giles-Harris has accumulated 30 tackles (16 solo), one sack, and one run stuff in his career. He played in three games for the Patriots and two games for the Jaguars a season ago. While he's unlikely to push for meaningful playing time in 2025, he could earn a spot as a special teamer or top reserve linebacker under new defensive coordinator Al Golden.
Apr 9   
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