Tag: Tee Higgins

Tee Higgins ranks as the NFL’s top upcoming free agent heading into 2025

A lot of teams are doing to be interested in Higgins.

Tee Higgins is poised to become one of the most sought-after names in the NFL free-agent market this offseason, with numerous outlets unanimously ranking him as the top player available. After a drawn-out contract saga with the Cincinnati Bengals, the Clemson alum has made a convincing case for a massive payday.

Higgins entered Saturday’s game with 58 catches, 727 yards, and seven touchdowns, but his performance against the Denver Broncos was a statement. He delivered a career-best game, racking up 11 receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning 3-yard snag in overtime to seal a 30-24 victory. Higgins also came up big earlier in the game with a crucial 31-yard grab during the decisive drive, showcasing his ability to dominate in clutch moments.

Despite battling injuries in recent seasons, Higgins has consistently demonstrated WR1 traits when on the field. Over his first three years in Cincinnati, he averaged over 1,000 receiving yards per season and remains a reliable playmaker in key moments. Sports Illustrated projects Higgins could command an annual salary of at least $25 million, a testament to his elite skill set and value to receiver-needy teams.

The Bengals face significant financial decisions in the coming months. With a second franchise tag for Higgins projected at $26.2 million and a lucrative extension likely for Ja’Marr Chase, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has indicated there is little chance Higgins remains in Cincinnati beyond 2024. Higgins skipped portions of OTAs this offseason, signaling his desire for a long-term deal elsewhere.

Joining Higgins in the free-agent spotlight is fellow Clemson standout DeAndre Hopkins, who ranks as high as No. 14 on boards from PFF and CBS. Hopkins, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, has proven he can still deliver at a high level after a midseason trade from the Tennessee Titans. As Clemson continues to produce top-tier receivers, Higgins and Hopkins reinforce the program’s reputation as “WRU.”

\With his combination of size, skill, and production, Higgins is primed to reset the market for top receivers, making him one of the most intriguing players to watch in the offseason.

Tee Higgins is playing his best football when it matters most for the Bengals

Higgins performance comes at a perfect time for the Bengal, but also himself.

The Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a thrilling 30-24 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos on Saturday, thanks to a massive performance from wide receiver Tee Higgins. It was a game Cincinnati desperately needed, and Higgins delivered when it mattered most, showcasing why he’s worth a long-term investment as he plays out a contract year.

Higgins exploded for 11 catches, 131 yards, and three touchdowns, including the game-winning 3-yard grab with just over a minute left in overtime. The Bengals leaned on him throughout the final drive, as Higgins also made an acrobatic 31-yard catch to set up his walk-off score. His other touchdowns came on a 2-yard snag in the second quarter and a 12-yard catch in the fourth, capping off a career-defining performance.

For Higgins, the night was about more than just team success—it was a reminder of his value as one of the NFL’s top playmakers. Despite battling injuries earlier in his career, Higgins has consistently produced since being drafted 33rd overall by the Bengals in 2020.

Playing under the franchise tag this season, Higgins entered Saturday’s game with 727 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games. After a performance like this, he’s making a strong case for why Cincinnati—or another team—should pay him like the elite receiver he’s proven to be.

Broncos CB Riley Moss accepts blame: ‘Sometimes you eat a (poop) sandwich’

“Sometimes you eat a (poop) sandwich and you’ve got to own it,” Broncos CB Riley Moss said of his performance against the Bengals.

Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss had a night to forget in his first game back from a knee injury against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.

Moss was in coverage on Tee Higgins for seven of the receiver’s receptions that went for 101 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-24 loss.

After the game, Moss owned up to his poor performance.

“[S]ometimes you eat a (poop) sandwich and you’ve got to own it,” Moss said. “This isn’t the first time that’s happened in my career, and it’s probably not going to be the last. The great ones are able to come back, be gritty and push through, and that’s what I’m going to do. I know everyone on this team will too.”

Moss said his knee “felt fine,” suggesting that it did not hinder his performance.

“My standard is to make the plays, and I was unable to do that a couple times, and I own up to that,” Moss said. “I take that to the chin, but I’m not going to get discouraged because we’ve got more football to play.”

After the loss, Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked if it seemed like Cincinnati was picking on Moss in coverage.

“Riley could have been healthy for the last eight weeks,” Payton said. “Whoever’s opposite Pat [Surtain], they’re going to go that direction, right? [Number] 5 (Tee Higgins) is good player. A real good player. It wasn’t anything that we didn’t expect. In other words, that happens when you’re teammates with Pat.”

Surtain expects his teammate to bounce back.

“Next play mentality,” the cornerback said. “It’s part of the game. (Defensive back is) a hard position at the end of the day, and sometimes it doesn’t go in your favor. I tell him, ‘Just keep going. Next play, next play.’ I believe in him, we all believe in him. It’s just one game. Next week he’s going to make a play, I’ll tell you all.”

Moss and Co. will look to bounce back when Denver hosts the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. The Broncos can clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs with a win (or tie) against the Chiefs.

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Tee Higgins’ contract situation with Bengals just got more interesting

Tee Higgins’ Week 17 showing and a new report paint his future with the Bengals in an interesting light.

By now, it feels like Tee Higgins simply won’t be leaving the Cincinnati Bengals.

Much has gone into this dramatic shift in Higgins’ future outlook with the Bengals over the last few weeks. His dramatic role in the season-saving win over the Denver Broncos in Week 17, highlighted by 11 catches for 131 yards and three scores and the game-winning catch in overtime, only intensified this idea.

A report after the game helped just as much, though.

Said report comes from a note shared by CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala on social media:

Tee Higgins told me last week being paid as a WR1 is not necessarily his no. 1 motivator. Said, “I’m playing with if not the best, one of the best, QBs. I’m playing with if not the best, one of the best, WRs. That opens up things for me.” And: “In this offense, everyone has a chance to be spotlighted.” He now shares an agent with Ja’Marr Chase and Chase told us Higgins is “the most unselfish person.” Maybe it’s not impossible…

This has been a read-between-the-lines thing for a few weeks now.

After all, Joe Burrow shocked some by putting serious public pressure on the Bengals front office to get an extension done. Shortly after, Higgins split with his (notorious in Cincinnati) agent. Then, he signed with the same reps as Ja’Marr Chase.

Tack on an all-timer of a showing in Bengals franchise history in Week 17, and this report, and it certainly feels like the team won’t have a choice but to find a way to keep the dynamic trio together.

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Commanders’ fans want Bengals star Tee Higgins after his latest performance

Commanders’ fans want to see Tee Higgins in the burgundy and gold next season.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins went off in Saturday’s 30-24 win over the Denver Broncos. In a must-win game for Cincinnati’s playoff hopes, Higgins caught 11 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns, including a dominant drive in overtime to help the Bengals improve to 8-8.

Higgins, of course, is a free agent after the season. Playing on the franchise tag in 2024, the Bengals must also pay fellow wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase this offseason. It’s almost mathematically impossible for Cincinnati to pay Joe Burrow, Chase and Higgins.

With so many teams needing wide receivers this offseason, Higgins will have no shortage of suitors. The Patriots, Panthers and Commanders are among the teams with the cap space, cash, and a need at wide receiver. Washington has Terry McLaurin, who is having a phenomenal season but badly needs a legit difference-maker opposite him for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Could Higgins be that guy? Would general manager Adam Peters splurge on Higgins? While Higgins will be expensive, he is 6-foot-4, only 25 (26 in January), and highly productive. He could be exactly what Washington needs to take its offense to the next level.

While it’s unclear where Peters stands on Higgins, Commanders’ fans made it clear on X — formerly Twitter — where they stand.

This Eagles fan does not want Higgins in Washington.

 

Tee Higgins is about to get PAID, but should the Bengals cut the check?

This is going to be a tough decision for Cincy.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins proved on Saturday night why he’s about to make a lot of money.

The big moment? Higgins caught the game-winning touchdown from Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow over the Denver Broncos in overtime, an electric catch at that.

Saturday’s home win is a crucial one that keeps Cincinnati’s season alive, but it’s Higgins’ stat line against an elite defense that might have the second-biggest impact on the Bengals going forward… outside of a possible playoff berth, of course.

Higgins hauled in 131 yards and three touchdowns against Denver’s vaunted defense, including the overtime score. Even though he’s missed time this season due to injury, Higgins has put more than enough great play on tape this season to justify paying him like one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.

That’s going to be the trouble for Cincinnati with fellow superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase also in line for a massive payday.

The Bengals technically have the 2025 cap space to sign both Chase and Higgins to new deals, but would they actually do it when the team’s defense needs real talent infusion after such a disappointing 2024 campaign? Can the team afford having all of these massive contracts in the years to come without sacrificing cap flexibility?

Burrow is playing at an MVP level this season, and he’s done so with only having Higgins for 11 games. While we’re sure Burrow would love having both Chase and Higgins around for the long haul, Cincinnati may not meaningfully contend for a Super Bowl again until this defense improves.

Cincinnati’s underwhelming season owes a lot to poor defensive play. Having both Chase and Higgins can help the Bengals score a lot of points, but those points will always be for naught if the defense stays a relative sieve.

The Bengals could take a good chunk of their 2025 salary cap and draft capital and retool that side of the ball while also paying Chase, arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL not named Justin Jefferson.

Losing Higgins would be a bitter pill to swallow, but he’s in line for a massive windfall whether he stays with the Bengals or not. If Cincinnati pays him and eventually trades Chase, that takes away the team’s most explosive offensive player (and the team’s best talent outside of Burrow). If Cincinnati pays them both, it may have to do so at the expense of meaningful investment on the defense.

A player of Higgins’ caliber may necessitate a sign-and-trade situation for the Bengals as not to let him just leave for a compensatory pick the team may cancel out in free agency. You could see any number of teams being willing to send a good draft pick Cincinnati’s way to sign Higgins to a monster deal.

If you’re Higgins, life is very good. You are about to earn an incredible pay day for bringing elite play to Cincinnati’s offense. If you’re the Bengals, you love how well Higgins is playing right now but also acknowledge he might be playing his way out of a future in Cincinnati.

The Bengals can keep Higgins for the future, but should they? It’s going to be one of the most fascinating offseason narratives to follow. There are a lot of questions with only one certainty: Higgins is about to get paid.

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WATCH: Tee Higgins has career day in likely final home game with Cincinnati Bengals

Have a DAY, Tee Higgins.

If former Clemson standout wide receiver Tee Higgins has played his final home game in a Cincinnati Bengals uniform, he sure went out with a bang.

Higgins hauled in a game-winning three-yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow late in overtime to lift Cincinnati to a 30-24 win over the Denver Broncos to keep the Bengals’ (8-8) playoff hopes alive Saturday night at Paycor Stadium.

One play before his game-winning catch, Higgins hauled in a perfect 31-yard pass from Burrow to set up first and goal.

Higgins finished the day with a game-high 11 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns. The fifth-year NFL veteran gave the Bengals their first score with a two-yard catch in the first quarter, then added a 12-yard touchdown to break a 10-10 tie in the third quarter.

Higgins’ three touchdown catches in Saturday’s win were a career high. His 11 catches were a season high, and his 131 yards were 17 shy of the 148 he had in the Bengals’ 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium back on Nov. 17.

In the offseason, Higgins requested a trade from the Bengals before signing the franchise tag and returning to Cincinnati for his fifth season with the team.

Higgins and the Bengals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Week 18 next Sunday.

Tee Higgins TD catch in overtime keeps Bengals alive in AFC playoff hunt

The Bengals remain alive in the AFC playoff hunt thanks to Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins

A stirring Saturday game between the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati saw the Bengals get an overtime touchdown on a pass from Joe Burrow to Tee Higgins for a 30-24 victory.

The win was the Bengals’ fourth straight and kept them in the AFC wild-card race. A win or tie would have given the Broncos the final AFC playoff spot.

The game was seesaw and it saw the Broncos get a TD with eight seconds left in regulation on a pass from Bo Nix to Marvin Mims Jr.

The PAT tied the game at 24. For a moment, it looked like Sean Payton was contemplating going for a two-point conversion and the win but he opted to kick the PAT.

The teams had multiple possessions in the extra session. Bengals kicker Cade York had a 33-yard field goal attempt for the win but hit the left upright.

A Broncos drive stalled and Joe Burrow led the game-winning march that concluded with 1:07 left on a three-yard pass to Higgins.

Higgins had 11 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns in the dramatic win.

The Bengals face the Steelers in Week 18. The Broncos play the Kansas City Chiefs. The Indianapolis Colts also figure into the mix.

Is Tee Higgins playing today? Injury updates for Bengals WR

Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is dealing with a leg injury. Here are the latest updates for Week 17.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins had a murky injury outlook ahead of his team’s Week 17 game against the Denver Broncos.

With playoff hopes and the entire season on the line, it sounds like Higgins will attempt to play through multiple injuries.

Here’s the latest.

 

Tee Higgins injury update

 

How long will Tee Higgins be out?

Higgins could very well be on a pitch count against the Broncos. A week ago, Higgins was on the injury report a few days before being taken off it. But this week, Higgins got hit with the questionable designation after appearing to suffer an injury during the win over the Browns.

 

Bengals WR depth chart

  • Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Jermaine Burton, Charlie Jones, Isaiah Williams

Expect a healthy dose of Andrei Iosivas and tight ends like Mike Gesicki if Higgins needs to be on a limited snap count.

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Bengals WR Tee Higgins’ injury update provided by NFL insider

A new report sheds light on Tee Higgins’ injury status before Week 17.

What’s the status on the injuries for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver before kickoff of the Week 17 matchup with the Denver Broncos?

Higgins surprised some by popping up on the report with multiple injuries this week, with the team ultimately listing him as “questionable” for the game.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler provided an update on Friday and wrote the following: “Tee Higgins (questionable, ankle/knee) improved every day in practice and there’s optimism he can play Sat. vs. #Broncos, barring new development, per sources.”

Last week, Higgins had limited work in practice before getting removed from the injury report on the final day. This week was different, with Higgins effectively getting a 50-50 chance to play on the final injury report.

Earlier this season, Higgins suffered a setback running routes during a Friday practice, causing him to miss his second stretch of games of the year.

Barring something unexpected, though, this new report suggests that Higgins will be out there against the Broncos.

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