A mandatory mini camp is a small three-day event in late spring or early summer. It’s time for new players to adapt to their coach.
Mini camps do not have pads. It’s strict to focus on reviewing your playbook and working on its techniques. According to NFL Insider, the two key pass rushes will not be attending their respective mini-camps this week. TJ Watt of the Steelers and Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals will be subject to fines for missing minicamps.
Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will need to re-sign the Star Pass Rush to a new long-term contract
Trey Hendrickson, TJ Watt has not reported to minicamps as Starpass Rush is seeking new deals. @rapsheet, @tompelissero + @mihekharafolohttps://t.co/mazumb8krs pic.twitter.com/ltn5plrvtk
-NFL Around (@AroundThenfl) June 10, 2025
On the 30th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Steelers chose TJ Watt from Wisconsin. Over eight seasons, the 30-year-old has 108 sacks with 121 career start. Watt has led the NFL three times in sacks and is the first Team All-Pro selection of four. With 22.5 sacks in 2021, Watt was named defensive player of the year. Following that season, he signed a four-year, $112 million extension with the Steelers.
His final season of that contract will appear in 2025. Pittsburgh and Watt have yet to agree to a new extension. As a result, the seven-time Pro Bowlers have not participated in the mandatory minicamp this week. He’s not the only star pass rush that’s skipping. Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson is seeking a new contract. Reports around the league show that Cincinnati and Hendrickson have not made any progress on extensions.
Trey Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 bags in 2024 and was named First-Team All-Pro. He began his career as a saint. The 30-year-old spent his final four seasons with the Bengals. Over the past two seasons, Trey Hendrickson has recorded 35 Cincinnati bags. If TJ Watt and Trey Hendrickson miss all three-day minicamps, they will be fined $104,768 each. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will work with Watt and Hendrickson this offseason to negotiate a new contract.
