Tag: Higgins

Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson labeled doubtful for Week 14

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson is not ready to return from a hip injury and is primarily scheduled to continue “rehab stuff” this week, coach Zac Taylor said Monday.

Taylor said he would consider Hendrickson doubtful to be ready for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

“We’ll just keep taking it week to week,” Taylor said Monday.

The Bengals (4-8) are still alive in the playoff picture behind the Baltimore Ravens (6-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) in the AFC North. Joe Burrow returned from a turf toe injury Thursday to guide Cincinnati to a 32-14 win over the Ravens that ended a four-game losing streak for the Bengals.

Hendrickson did not play in a game in November. He was sidelined Oct. 26 against the Jets but was not placed on injured reserve. The Bengals reportedly rebuffed trade offers for the pass rusher in October.

Taylor indicated there is also no change in the status of wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion), who missed the Thanksgiving night win at Baltimore.

Hendrickson, who turns 31 this week, has 4.0 sacks this season but none since he recorded a pair against Jared Goff and the Lions on Oct. 5.

He spent the offseason in a standoff with the Bengals over the lack of a contract extension. Hendrickson officially requested a trade. But the Bengals eventually coaxed Hendrickson out of a holdout posture with a $14 million raise for 2025 that pushed his salary to $30 million.

Hendrickson entered 2025 with an NFL-best 35 total sacks the previous two seasons.

–Field Level Media

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (concussion) injured vs. Patriots

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Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins exited Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the New England Patriots due to a concussion.

Higgins was injured when his head landed hard on the turf. He was motionless for several minutes before eventually being carted to the locker room with 4:45 left in the game.

New England cornerback Carlton Davis III, who had the coverage on a deep pass attempt, landed on Higgins and drove him into the ground. Davis was flagged for pass interference on the play.

Higgins, 26, had five receptions for 31 yards before departing.

Overall, Higgins has 40 catches for 575 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games.

The Bengals (3-8) have a short week and visit the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night. Higgins is in jeopardy of missing the contest as he will need to clear protocol to be in position to play.

Cincinnati faced New England without star receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who was suspended one game for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey last week.

–Field Level Media

Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa State wideout Jayden Higgins (WO18) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Texans 2nd-rounder Jayden Higgins makes history with guaranteed deal

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The Houston Texans agreed to a fully guaranteed four-year, $11.7 million deal with rookie receiver Jayden Higgins, according to multiple reports on Thursday.

That would make Higgins the first second-round pick ever to receive a fully guaranteed contact. He’ll receive a signing bonus of just more than $5.1 million.

Higgins, from Iowa State, was selected 34th overall in last month’s NFL draft and was the second pick of the second round. He was the fourth receiver taken.

The 6-foot-4, 214-pound Higgins has a solid chance to make an impact as a rookie after the offseason departure of Stefon Diggs and the serious knee injury sustained last season by Tank Dell. Nico Collins will he Houston’s top receiver.

Higgins caught 87 passes for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns last season and received multiple All-American honors for Iowa State. As a junior, he caught 53 passes for 983 yards and six scores.

Higgins also played two seasons for FCS program Eastern Kentucky. He caught 13 touchdown passes for the Colonels, 10 coming as a sophomore before his transfer to Iowa State.

In the third round, Houston selected Jaylin Noel, the Cyclones’ co-star wideout along with Higgins.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91), left, and Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) celebrate a sack in the second quarter during a Week 16 NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

Good things in threes? Trey Hendrickson, Bengals talking contract

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Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals are negotiating toward a contract extension after the two sides previously agreed to look for a trade partner for the 2024 NFL sacks leader.

According to The Athletic, the Bengals are attempting to keep Hendrickson long-term while working through salary-cap hurdles.

The news comes one day after multiple reports the team agreed to sign wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to massive contract extensions.

Chase, who was entering the final year of his most recent deal, is reportedly lined up for 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 reportedly 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.

Hendrickson, 30, led the NFL with 17.5 sacks last season. He has one year remaining on a contract extension he signed in 2023 with a base salaary of $15.8 million for 2025.

The market for defensive players has climbed quickly.

Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby signed a record three-year, $106.5 million contract extension with Las Vegas in the latest signal of where the market could be headed for premium pass rushers. Crosby, 27, has 22 total sacks the past two seasons.

Then Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett topped that with a reported four-year, $160 million extension that includes $123.5 million guaranteed.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, personnel boss Duke Tobin said Cincinnati was angling to keep Hendrickson, who was named first-team All-Pro last season and has a league-high 35 sacks since the start of the 2023 season. In four seasons with the Bengals, Hendrickson recorded 57 sacks and 11 forced fumbles.

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: Teams call Bengals to talk Tee Higgins trade

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Multiple teams inquired about the availability of franchise-tagged Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, but Cincinnati’s appetite for parting with the No. 2 receiver remains unclear, according to reports.

Given the franchise tag for the second year in a row, Higgins would lock in a one-year salary worth $26.2 million if he signs the tender offer from the Bengals.

Cincinnati’s public position has been Higgins is not unavailable. The Bengals also have a number of other contract situations to address.

The Bengals and Higgins have until July 15 to come to terms on a long-term contract agreement. The trade value set under the terms of the CBA on franchise tags would be two first-round draft picks.

Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said last month at the NFL Scouting Combine the team’s preference is to keep Higgins.

But negotiations could be tricky with defensive end Trey Hendrickson and All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in line for new contracts.

Chase is entering the final year of his contract and not expected to play next season without a new deal in place. The strategy was employed by Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk last summer. In each case, the team balked to end the standoff and both players emerged with near top-of-market long-term deals.

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

Hendrickson, 30, led the NFL in sacks with 17.5 in 2024, the same number he reached in 2023 after agreeing to a contract extension through 2025.

–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.

Only two players receive franchise tag, lowest since ‘94

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The 4 p.m. ET deadline came and went Tuesday with only two NFL players receiving the franchise tag: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and Kansas City Chiefs right guard Trey Smith.

The most notable candidate not to be tagged: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, who instead will test the open market while the team reportedly works on an offer to bring him back.

Per ESPN, this marked the fewest players on the franchise tag since 1994, when only two got the tag. It’s sharply down from last year’s total of eight players tagged around the league.

Higgins was tagged for the second straight year at $26.2 million, and he and the Bengals will work on a long-term contract between now and the July 15 deadline. Smith was tendered at $23.4 million.

Higgins, 26, played in 12 games 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 since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Smith, 25, was a Pro Bowl selection at right guard in 2024 and has started 80 games — 13 in the playoffs — since being selected in the sixth round in 2021.

Darnold, 27, landed in Minnesota last winter on a one-year free agent deal, projected as the Vikings’ interim quarterback, particularly after the team subsequently used a first-round pick on QB J.J. McCarthy.

Darnold won the quarterback job in training camp, during which McCarthy sustained a season-ending right knee injury. In the regular season, Darnold proved to be a revelation, leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record while completing 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, all career highs. He was intercepted 12 times.

The surprise season earned Darnold a Pro Bowl selection, and he wound up 10th in MVP voting.

–Field Level Media

Injured Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) walks the field before the first quarter of the NFL Week 2 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. The Bengals led 16-10 at halftime.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) set to make season debut

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Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins said he is 100 percent recovered from his hamstring injury and will make his season debut in Monday night’s home game against the Washington Commanders.

Higgins missed the first two games of the season due to the injury. He was a limited practice participant the past two days.

“I feel great,” Higgins said after Friday’s practice. “Obviously, unfortunate with the injury, sat out the first two weeks but finally ready to get my feet wet this season and ready to go.”

Higgins, a fifth-year pro, sustained the injury on Sept. 5 in practice.

The 25-year-old has topped 1,000 yards in two of his four seasons with Cincinnati. He is making $21.8 million on the franchise tag this season after he and the Bengals could not agree on a long-term extension.

Overall, Higgins has 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 scores in four NFL seasons.

Another solid campaign could see the price for Higgins’ services increase.

“I don’t really look at it that way,” Higgins said when asked about the situation. “I’ve just got to go out and be me and play my game, and the rest will take care of itself.”

Fellow wideout Ja’Marr Chase is happy to see that Higgins is about to return in the wake of the team’s 0-2 start.

“I feel like we need a win, just under our belt just so we can feel relaxed, and just get a win at home,” Chase said. “I think that’s another good thing that’ll be good for us. And having a full offense back as one whole unit, finally, I think that would be good for us.”

Chase had just four receptions for 35 yards in last Sunday’s last-second 26-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He has 10 catches for 97 yards and no touchdowns this season.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals Tee Higgins who was inactive for the Bengals home opener watches the scoreboard as his team is defeated by the New England Patriots 16-10 at Paycor Stadium Sunday, September 8, 2024.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) doubtful for Chiefs

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Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins will likely miss a second straight game Sunday when his club visits the two-time defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Higgins (hamstring) missed the season-opening loss to the New England Patriots and didn’t practice at all this week. On Friday, the club listed Higgins as doubtful for the game against Kansas City.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor didn’t sound overly optimistic while updating Higgins’ injury on Friday.

“We’ll see,” Taylor said. “I’m not going to rule him out yet for Sunday. We’ll see where he’s at.”

Higgins injured the hamstring during a practice on Sept. 5.

In the offseason, Cincinnati placed the $21.8 million franchise tag on Higgins to prevent him from seeking offers from other teams.

Last season, Higgins caught 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games (11 starts). He has 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 scores in four NFL seasons.

Cincinnati ruled out defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (thumb) for Sunday. In addition to Higgins, tight end Tanner Hudson (knee) and offensive tackle Amarius Mims (pectoral) are doubtful.

Kansas City wideout Marquise Brown (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Friday and will undergo surgery. No other Chiefs are in danger of missing the game.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) walk to the practice field, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati.

Daily drama continues with Bengals’ star receivers

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Just when the Cincinnati Bengals thought their wide receiver room was fully intact again, Tee Higgins pulled up lame.

Higgins, playing this season on the franchise tag, “tweaked his hamstring” on Thursday and did not practice on Friday, head coach Zac Taylor said.

Meanwhile wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who finally returned to practice this week, called himself a “game-time decision” ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the visiting New England Patriots.

Chase told reporters Friday he would consider playing without a new contract, but that he would likely be “limited” if he takes the field.

“I’m confident it’ll get done,” Chase said of his ongoing negotiations for an extension. “I know my worth. They know my worth.”

A reporter asked Chase about reports he is seeking one penny more than Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million extension.

“If I want to beat Justin Jefferson, I’m going to beat the (expletive) out of Justin,” Chase answered. “Not by a penny, brother.”

The Bengals had both of their star wideouts on the field together for just two practices — Wednesday and Thursday — because of Chase’s contract dispute.

While Higgins signed his franchise tender in July and participated in training camp, Chase isn’t pleased to be playing the 2024 season at a base salary just over $1 million.

Higgins said “I feel great” when asked about his hamstring injury and appearance on the injury report on Thursday. He went as far as to rate his condition as “the best I’ve felt heading into Week 1” in his career.

Hamstring injuries are not new and Higgins has been listed on the injury report at least one game at some point every season because of it.

Taylor was not ready to declare Higgins available for Sunday’s game.

“We’ll see,” Taylor said.

Taylor said the other injury development since Wednesday was defensive tackle Kris Jenkins undergoing thumb surgery. Jenkins is out but will be reevaluated before Week 2.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a touchdown pass as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans (21) defends in the fourth quarter of a Week 15 NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bengals won 27-24 in overtime.

Reports: Bengals WR Tee Higgins requests trade

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins requested a trade from the team after being hit with the franchise tag, according to multiple reports.

Higgins was set to hit free agency when the Bengals used the tag to retain him, guaranteeing a $21.816 million salary for the 2024 season.

Per reports, Higgins grew frustrated by the lack of effort to sign him to a contract extension.

Higgins, 25, completed a four-year, $8.68 million rookie deal he signed as a 2020 second-round pick.

“Tee has done an outstanding job for us since we drafted him,” coach Zac Taylor said in a statement when Higgins was tagged. “I’m glad that he’ll continue to be a big part of our offense and our team.”

The sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal.

Higgins caught 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games (11 starts) in 2023 after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2021-22. He has 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 TDs in 58 games (53 starts).

–Field Level Media