Tag: Cincinnati

Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Tee Higgins (5) and Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrate a touchdown during a game on Nov. 17, 2024.

Reports: Bengals signing WRs Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins to 4-year deals

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cincinnati Bengals are keeping star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins after the pair agreed to contract extensions, according to multiple reports on Sunday night.

The receivers told Fox Sports, with figures confirmed by an NFL Network report, details of the new pacts. Chase, who was entering the final year of his most recent deal, agreed to a four-year, $161 million contract that includes $112 million guaranteed.

The annual average salary of $40.25 million sets the league record for most lucrative for a non-quarterback.

Higgins has agreed to a four-year, $115 million contract with the first two years guaranteed. The Bengals had used the franchise tag on Higgins for the second consecutive year to block him from reaching unrestricted free agency for the 2025 season. The one-year salary for franchise-tagged wide receivers is $26.2 million.

The Bengals and Higgins had a deadline of July 15 to come to terms on a long-term contract agreement. Higgins said he wanted to stay with Cincinnati. His trade value set under the terms of the CBA on franchise tags would be two first-round draft picks, if the team could have found a suitor for their No. 2 receiver.

The franchise was trying to figure out how to compensate two players at the same position as well as the entire team under the salary cap. The Bengals negotiated last preseason with Chase, who held out part of training camp before deciding to play without a new deal.

Chase, who turned 25 on March 1, led the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdown receptions (17) as well as yards per game (100.5) in 17 games (16 starts).

The Bengals selected Chase with the fifth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft out of LSU, where he was a teammate of his quarterback in Cincinnati, two-time Pro Bowl selection Joe Burrow.

For his career, Chase has 395 catches for 5,425 yards and 46 touchdowns in 62 regular-season games (61 starts). He also has 45 receptions for 588 yards and three TDs in seven playoff games (all starts).

He has been selected to the Pro Bowl in all four seasons, and was first-team All-Pro in 2024. Chase was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.

Higgins, 26, played in 12 games (nine starts) in 2024 and caught 10 TD passes with 73 receptions for 911 yards. He has 34 career touchdowns, 330 catches and 4,595 yards in 70 regular-season games (62 starts) since being selected in the second round of the 2020 draft.

The Bengals used the No. 1 pick in the same draft to select Burrow, who has said he would be disappointed if Higgins doesn’t return.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) takes the field for the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.

Reports: Bengals seek long-term deal for WR Tee Higgins, but could tag him

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cincinnati Bengals are trying to work out a long-term contract with wide receiver Tee Higgins but are willing to use a franchise tag again for the 2025 season, according to multiple media reports on Monday.

The window to place a franchise tag is Feb. 18 to March 4. Higgins, 26, played out his one year as the team’s designated franchise player, which paid him $21.8 million in salary. The franchise tag in 2025 would guarantee $26.18 million — the average of the top five salaries for wide receivers last season.

Reports on Monday said that the Bengals, if necessary, will buy more time to negotiate a contract extension by placing a non-exclusive tag on Higgins. He will be able to negotiate with other clubs, but a team that signs him is required to compensate Cincinnati with two first-round draft picks, a steep price.

Once the Bengals tag Higgins, they would have until July 15 to work out a contract extension or the one-year deal becomes permanent.

Cincinnati also is weighing giving an extension to star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, 24, to keep the tandem together, as well as considering the future of defensive end Trey Hendrickson, 30, the NFL sack leader (17.5) last season. Both Chase and Hendrickson are four-time Pro Bowl selections and were first-team All-Pro in 2024.

The Bengals selected Higgins in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

He started nine of the 12 games he played last season and totaled 73 receptions for 911 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns. He also played only 12 games (11 starts) in 2023 because of hamstring issues. For his career, Higgins has 330 receptions for 4,595 yards and 34 TDs in 70 games (62 starts).

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bengals hire two defensive assistants for DC Al Golden

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The Cincinnati Bengals announced on Monday the hiring of Jerry Montgomery as defensive line coach/run game coordinator and Mike Hodges as linebackers coach.

They will work under defensive coordinator Al Golden, who joined head coach Zac Taylor’s staff last week.

Montgomery, 45, was the defensive line coach in 2024 for New England. The Patriots fired head coach Jerod Mayo after a 4-13 record in his lone season and replaced him with Mike Vrabel, who is hiring new staff.

A former player at Iowa and a college coach, Montgomery spent nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers as a defensive front assistant (2015-17), defensive line coach (2018-21) and defensive line coach/running game coordinator (2022-23).

Hodges, 38, spent the last eight years as a defensive assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints, coaching the linebackers from 2020-24. He played linebacker at Texas A&M and crossed paths with Taylor, who was a graduate assistant for the Aggies from 2008-11.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo watches a replay of the Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (19) touchdown on the video board in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 17 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. The Bengals took a 30-24 win in overtime to remain in the post season chase.

Reports: Colts hiring former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo for same role

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts are hiring Lou Anarumo as defensive coordinator, according to multiple media reports on Monday.

Anarumo, 58, served the past six seasons as DC in Cincinnati before the Bengals fired him on Jan. 6.

Cincinnati went 9-8 and won its last five games but missed the playoffs. The Bengals finished the season 25th in total defense (348.3 yards per game) and tied for 25th in points allowed (25.5 per game).

The Colts fired defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, 58, on Jan. 6 after three seasons. The defense allowed 25.1 points per game (24th) and 361.2 yards per game (29th).

Anarumo was the Bengals’ defensive coordinator from 2019-24, a role he also served as interim with Miami in 2015. He was the Dolphins’ defensive backs coach in 2014-17, and coached the New York Giants’ defensive backs in 2018.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Bengals leading rusher Chase Brown (ankle sprain) exits

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cincinnati Bengals kept their slim playoff hopes alive, but they lost starting running back Chase Brown to an ankle injury in Saturday’s 30-24 overtime victory over the visiting Denver Broncos.

Brown’s injury happened with the Bengals driving late in the fourth quarter of a tie game but trying to run the clock down in anticipation of a go-ahead score. He ran 5 yards but hurt himself when he intentionally slid at the 1-yard line in an attempt to keep the clock moving. After his injury stopped the clock, Joe Burrow ran it in for a score on the next play with 1:29 left in the game.

The Broncos then scored the tying touchdown with eight seconds to play, and Khalil Herbert took Brown’s place in the backfield.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters after the win that Brown, who totaled 91 offensive yards, had sprained his right ankle. The second-year back rushed for 67 yards on 20 carries and caught four passes for 24 yards.

Cincinnati’s fifth-round pick in 2023, the 24-year-old Brown was sharing running back duties with Zack Moss this season until Moss went down with a neck injury in the eighth game of the season.

In 16 games (10 starts) this season, Brown has 990 rushing yards and seven touchdowns along with 54 receptions for 360 yards and four scores.

As a rookie behind Joe Mixon last season, Brown played in 12 games and finished with 179 rushing yards along with 14 catches for 156 yards and one score.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals place kicker Evan McPherson (2) lines up to kick a field goal in the second quarter of the NFL Week 11 game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers led 24-6 at halftime.

Report: Bengals K Evan McPherson (groin) sidelined; Cade York added

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson will miss a few weeks due to a groin injury, while kicker Cade York was added to the practice squad, NFL Network reported Wednesday.

McPherson, 25, made his lone field-goal attempt of 38 yards and all five extra-point attempts on Sunday in a 44-38 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is 16 of 22 (72.7 percent) on field-goal attempts this season with a long of 56 yards.

The Bengals selected McPherson in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He is 94 of 115 on field goals (81.7 percent) with a long of 59 yards in 61 career regular-season games. He has made 163 of 170 extra points (95.9 percent).

York, 23, was a fourth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 2022 draft. He kicked in 17 games in 2022, making 24 of 32 field-goal attempts (75 percent) and 35 of 37 extra points (94.6 percent).

The Browns released him in August 2023 and he spent time with the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants in 2023 without appearing in a game. The Browns signed York in March and traded him to the Washington Commanders on Aug. 22 for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2025. He missed both field-goal attempts and made two extra points in the season-opening loss at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before his release on Sept. 9.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) runs by Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jiquan Sanks (9) for a touchdown in the first quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

Kansas State’s ground game chews up Cincinnati in big win

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Avery Johnson threw for two touchdowns, rushed for a third, and DJ Giddens racked up 143 yards rushing and two scores as Kansas State shredded Cincinnati 41-15 on Saturday night in Manhattan, Kan.

Cincinnati (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) needs a home victory over TCU on Nov. 30 to get bowl-eligible.

Kansas State’s defense held the Bearcats to 3-of-12 on third-down conversions and 0-of-5 on fourth-down attempts.

The Wildcats (8-3, 5-3) held just a 428-374 advantage in total yards, with the big advantage coming on the ground, 281-174.

Johnson was 13-of-23 for 147 yards and rushed 10 times for 72 yards.

Cincinnati tried to get back in the game when Brendan Sorsby found Tony Johnson in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown with 4:54 left in the third quarter. The Bearcats were unable to make the two-point conversion and were trailing 27-9.

But Kansas State answered with an 11-play, 73-yard drive. Giddens ran 17 yards for his second touchdown of the game for a 34-9 lead.

Johnson later found Will Swanson for an 8-yard touchdown, and Sorsby hit Johnson for a 6-yard touchdown with just over five minutes left to finish the scoring.

The Wildcats forced a three-and-out on Cincinnati’s first possession and then went 65 yards in five plays for a 7-0 lead. Johnson had 54 yards rushing on the drive, including a 21-yard touchdown.

Chris Tennant added to the Kansas State lead with a 28-yard field goal on the next drive. Tennant then hit from 32 yards to stretch the lead to 13-0.

Kansas State stopped Cincinnati on fourth-and-8 at the Wildcats’ 33-yard line and then marched 67 yards in four plays, capped by Giddens’ 32-yard touchdown run.

Nathan Hawks connected on a 42-yard field goal to put Cincinnati on the board with 4:17 left in the second quarter, making the score 20-3. However, the Wildcats closed the half with a 6-yard touchdown from Johnson to Tre Spivey. The play was set up by an interception and 16-yard return to the Cincinnati 26 by Brendan Mott.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) runs for a touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. The Iowa State Cyclones won the game 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

Kansas State out to ‘right the ship,’ sink Cincinnati’s bowl push

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Two breeds of Cats square off Saturday night with pride and perhaps bowl game pecking order on the line, as Cincinnati travels to play Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan.

The Bearcats (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) need a win at Kansas State or against TCU at home on Nov. 30 to reach bowl eligibility. K-State (7-3, 4-3) has qualified for a bowl game but disappointing losses all but erased the chances the Wildcats will appear in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Cincinnati’s three game losing streak is lined with defensive letdowns. The Bearcats allowed at least 31 points in each of the losses. The Bearcats rushed for a season-best 287 yards but also had a season-high 13 penalties in losing at Iowa State 34-17 last week.

“We did some good things, but we obviously did some bad things,” Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield said. “They were dropping eight (defenders) all night. When they do that, there’s nowhere to throw the ball.”

Satterfield is anxious for another opportunity on Saturday, when the Bearcats will have to corral the fourth-leading rushing in the Big 12 in DJ Giddens.

“There’s a lot of similarity between last week and this week,” he said Tuesday. “Iowa State and Kansas State are two of the best programs in the Big 12. They’re coming off a couple of losses, just like Iowa State was. We have to have a really good week to give ourselves a chance to get this win.”

This is the fourth Big 12 night game on the road for the Bearcats, who haven’t played Kansas State in nearly three decades.

K-State lost a late lead at Houston two weeks ago, falling as a heavy favorite to the Cougars. And last Saturday against an Arizona State team that lost to Cincinnati, the Wildcats fell behind 24-0 in the third quarter before finally gaining traction and mounting a comeback.

But mistakes derailed any chances of a rally in a 24-14 loss.

“Obviously a disappointing performance on Saturday,” Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman said Monday. “We had a long staff meeting yesterday and talked about a lot of things. We looked at offense, defense and special teams. I don’t think anybody could point a finger at anybody because I don’t think any unit played up to its capabilities.”

Now the Wildcats must get refocused to face the Bearcats.

“Our job this week is to right the ship, because we have another opportunity,” Klieman said. “I want our seniors to have an opportunity to go out well.”

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) looks a for a play call in the first quarter during a college football game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at Nippert Stadium win Cincinnati.

Iowa State strives to spin up new streak, ‘move on’ to Cincinnati

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Consecutive losses may have derailed Iowa State’s Big 12 title hopes but the Cyclones are certain they face a must-win situation on Saturday when Cincinnati comes calling at Ames, Iowa.

Undefeated prior to a bye in late October, Iowa State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) since lost 23-22 to visiting Texas Tech and 45-36 to Kansas on a neutral field.

The College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night as the guide for the 12-team playoff left the Cyclones out entirely, opting for a second American Athletic Conference team — No. 25 Tulane (8-2) — over the likes of Iowa State and ACC rep Pittsburgh. Pitt also started undefeated only to drop back-to-back games and fall out of the rankings.

The CFP committee sent a clear indication to Iowa State that a third straight setback would all but end any chance of being part of the playoff field.

No. 6 BYU (9-0, 6-0) leads the Big 12 and No 17 Colorado (7-2, 5-1) stands second.

Iowa State is part of a four-way tie for third but still has a shot at making a statement with No. 16 Kansas State on the schedule to end the regular season.

Cyclones coach Matt Campbell isn’t ready to accept that the Big 12 title quest is over.

“I guess we’re gonna find out,” Campbell said. “… The reality is what show’s up next Saturday? … We’ve got great leadership. We’ve got great coaching, but the reality of it is, who are you when things aren’t going great? And we’re gonna find out.”

Quarterback Rocco Becht passed for a season-high 383 yards in the loss to Kansas while Jaylin Noel had a career-best 167 receiving yards. He matched his career high of eight receptions while increasing his consecutive games with a catch streak to 41.

Becht is still stunned that an undefeated start disintegrated so fast.

“All the work that you put in to get to 7-0, and then those two losses coming out like that, it’s tough to move on,” Becht said.

Another challenge for the Cyclones is that Tyson Veidt is Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator. He served as Cyclones assistant head coach the past eight seasons before moving on to the Bearcats.

“Obviously, we are playing Iowa State, a defense that we hired coach Tyson from, so it gives us more familiarity with their defense,” Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield said. “I think having gone against it in the spring and in the summer, so we’ll have a better idea about it.”

Cincinnati (5-4, 3-3) has dropped two straight games, including a frustrating 31-24 to visiting West Virginia last weekend.

The Bearcats held a 436-248 edge in total offense and owned a 24-10 edge in first downs. But three turnovers by Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby (one interception, two fumbles) led to 17 West Virginia points.

“We’ve got to take care of the football, bottom line,” Satterfield said. “Turnover margin is one of the most important stats you can win to be able to win the game, particularly if they take those for (two) touchdowns and that’s what happened.”

Last season, Becht passed for 241 yards and two touchdowns as Iowa State posted a 30-10 home win over Cincinnati.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) talks with his teammates as the Bengals face the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL Week 8 matchup at Paycor Stadium Sunday October 27, 2024. Higgins missed the game due to an injury.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins, OT Orlando Brown Jr. doubtful vs. Raiders

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Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins could miss his second straight game and four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown also is doubtful for Sunday’s home game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Friday.

Both Higgins (quadricep) and Brown (knee/fibula) missed three consecutive days of this week. Wideout Charlie Jones sustained a groin injury on Thursday and missed practice on Friday, with Taylor listing him as questionable against the Raiders (2-6).

Higgins injured his quad at practice last week and was inactive for the game against the Philadelphia Eagles as the Bengals fell to 3-5.

The 25-year-old has played in five games (three starts) and has 29 receptions on 45 targets for 341 yards and three touchdowns.

Cincinnati selected Higgins in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Clemson. He has 286 receptions for 4,025 yards and 27 TDs in 63 games (56 starts).

Brown, 28, has started all eight games this season, his second with the Bengals. A third-round pick by Baltimore in 2018, he has started 100 of 106 games for the Ravens (2018-20), Kansas City Chiefs (2021-22) and Bengals.

–Field Level Media