Tee Higgins took time on Thursday to address the growing speculation surrounding his hamstring injury as the Cincinnati Bengals prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The wide receiver, who missed the Bengals’ 16–10 loss to the New England Patriots last week, has been the subject of rumors from NFL fans suggesting he’s “milking” the injury due to dissatisfaction with his contract situation. However, Higgins was quick to set the record straight.
In an interview with ESPN’s Ben Baby, Higgins expressed frustration over the baseless claims. “I just don’t understand why fans think I’m faking an injury,” Higgins said. “For me to get an extension for a contract, the deadline is over. I just don’t understand why they think I’m faking an injury. It doesn’t make sense to me.”
The speculation likely stems from Higgins’ contract situation, which has been a topic of conversation throughout the offseason. The 25-year-old receiver made it clear early on that he was seeking a contract extension, but instead, the Bengals placed the franchise tag on him in February. While he is set to earn $21.8 million this season under the franchise tag, Higgins requested a trade in March. Despite this, he ultimately signed the franchise tender in June.
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The deadline for players under the franchise tag to negotiate long-term deals passed on July 15, meaning Higgins and the Bengals are locked into the current arrangement for the remainder of the season.
As a result, no further contract negotiations can take place until the offseason, so Higgins will be playing out this year on the franchise tag—when healthy.
Higgins’ injury situation has added to the tension. He was a full participant in practice last Wednesday, but his activity was limited on Thursday, and he did not practice on Friday, leading to his absence in the Bengals’ Week 1 game. This week, Higgins missed both Wednesday and Thursday’s practices, casting doubt on whether he will be available for the crucial Week 2 matchup against the Chiefs.
Higgins emphasized that his decision to sit out is purely based on his health and the desire to perform at his best for the team. “I want to go out there and give my teammates a hundred percent of Tee Higgins,” he told ESPN. “I don’t want to give them 50% and half-ass it just to be a presence on the field.”
Despite the rumors, Higgins remains focused on recovering from his hamstring injury and returning to the field when he’s fully ready. His response highlights his commitment to his team and his desire to contribute at his highest level, regardless of the noise surrounding his contract situation.
For now, Bengals fans will have to wait and see if Higgins is able to suit up for Week 2, but one thing is clear: he’s not faking anything.
