(Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)
Everything changed for the Cincinnati Bengals as an organization when Joe Burrow got drafted.
The Bengals were in a mediocre rut and were hoping to find a quarterback who could help them get back on track.
He showed what he could do in a shortened rookie year due to injury, further proving himself in his second and third seasons.
Burrow helped turn the Bengals into one of the best teams in the AFC as the front office started to build the team around him.
The Bengals had so much momentum, and then the 2023 season happened.
Burrow had two different injuries during the season that kept him sidelined, and while there was optimism at times, the Bengals missed the playoffs by a wide margin.
Even though Burrow is slated to return in Week 1 of the 2024 season, there was a slight attitude shift within the locker room, starting with veteran Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson has been a meaningful member of the Bengals’ defense since joining the team in 2021, but he appears unhappy with the way the team is handling his potential contract extension.
Reporter Charlie Clifford highlighted this on Twitter, noting that Hendrickson has officially requested a trade, and also threatened retirement after a conversation with head coach, Zac Taylor.
A source tells @WLWT, in addition to the trade request, Trey Hendrickson notified the Bengals that he is considering retirement ahead of this regular season if the two sides fail to reach an agreement on a new contract.
Hendrickson met with Head Coach Zac Taylor earlier today. pic.twitter.com/vFtjE97B6k
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) April 24, 2024
If the Bengals do lose Hendrickson, it would be a massive blow to their defense, which was looking to take a step forward in 2024.
This is a delicate situation for this team, and if they don’t handle it the right way, they may need to start preparing plans for Hendrickson’s replacement.
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