Two veteran stars, Trey Hendrickson and Terry McLaurin, headline a preseason storyline that could decide how far the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders go this season. Each is holding out for a contract extension as they near 30, and both will miss the dress rehearsal on Monday night. The holdouts test the teams’ depth and pace-tilted game plans as they pursue realistic title chances.

Hendrickson, coming off a league-leading 17.5 sacks, and McLaurin, who topped 1,000 receiving yards with 13 touchdowns, are on outdated deals that don’t reflect recent production. Hendrickson earns around $16 million in cash, far from peers with similar production; McLaurin sits in the upper-middle on average salary. Their absence forces both teams to lean on the next-man-up crew and scheming to maintain pressure and playmaking capability until negotiations resolve.

The Commanders’ no-huddle pace and Washington’s timing with McLaurin will be a focal point, while the Bengals will rely on others to anchor the edges until Hendrickson is back. Coaches emphasize business realities but insist the work continues, with veteran leadership guiding younger linemen and receivers through reps and film. The Monday game will hint at how quickly each star can rejoin and how much the holdout could influence the early season rhythm.