Ben Baby, ESPN Staff Writer
CINCINNATI — Bengals large receiver Tee Higgins is confused by the narrative surrounding his injury state of affairs.
Higgins informed ESPN on Thursday the hamstring injury that has stored him out of follow this week is totally unrelated to his contract standing. Higgins has not practiced since he injured a hamstring in follow Sept. 5, just some days earlier than the crew's season-opening loss to the New England Patriots.
But the fifth-year participant made it identified he needs to be on the discipline.
“I just don't understand why fans think I'm faking an injury, when for me to get an extension for a contract, the deadline is over,” Higgins informed ESPN. “I just don't understand why they think I'm faking an injury. It doesn't make sense to me.”
Higgins didn't follow for the second straight day as he continues to get better.
The deadline Higgins referred to was July 15. That's the closing day groups and gamers who have been on the franchise tag might attain a long-term deal. If one is not reached by then, the sides cannot negotiate till the finish of the common season.
Higgins has sought an extension in every of the previous two offseasons. He requested a commerce in March however signed the franchise tag June 17, 4 days after the crew's obligatory minicamp ended. When the Bengals began coaching camp, he mentioned he signed the tag when he did to give attention to having the finest season doable.
“I'm here, man,” Higgins mentioned July 24. “No ifs, ands or buts about it. I'm here and ready to work.”
Bengals coach Zac Taylor mentioned Higgins tweaked his hamstring Sept. 5. Earlier in the day, earlier than the injury report got here out, Higgins mentioned he felt “amazing” and “ready to go” for the upcoming yr. But the injury was extra severe than he realized and compelled him to take a seat out the opener in opposition to the Patriots, a 16-10 residence defeat.
“I prepare myself to go out here and dominate, start of Week 1,” Higgins informed ESPN on Thursday. “Unfortunately, four days before the game, I have a hamstring tweak that I didn't think was as bad, so I made the comments I did after [practice].
“I did not suppose it was dangerous till, clearly, I bought it checked on the subsequent day. It was worse than what I believed.”
Bengals left guard Cordell Volson had strong praise for Higgins' work ethic.
“The approach that he goes about his enterprise and goes to work, it is actually particular,” Volson said. “And he's a very particular participant.”
Earlier in the week, Taylor said Higgins would be evaluated day-to-day, with his status for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs still not determined. Last season, Higgins missed three games with a hamstring issue and injured the other hamstring that forced him to miss the season finale against the Cleveland Browns.
In his first four seasons, Higgins has been one of the Bengals' top offensive players. Between 2020 and 2022, he was one of 15 players to amass 3,000 or more receiving yards, according to ESPN Research. Last season, the former Clemson standout had 656 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 12 games.
On Thursday, Higgins told ESPN he wanted to be at full strength when he returned so he could provide a maximum impact for Cincinnati's offense.
“I need to go on the market and provides my teammates one hundred percent of Tee Higgins, what I'm saying?” Higgins told ESPN. “I do not need to give them 50% and half-ass it simply to be a presence on the discipline.”
