Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Tee Higgins will miss Week 2 of the 2024 season. Higgins is still dealing with a hamstring injury and will miss the second game of the young season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared via Twitter/X.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins officially is inactive today vs. Chiefs.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 15, 2024
Higgins was seen with cleats on, getting a little work in pregame before his team took on the Kansa City Chiefs on the road. Higgins was listed as doubtful leading up to the game but was officially ruled out of the contest.
Higgins did not practice this week due to the hamstring issue and has not practiced his Sept. 5.
Earlier in the week, he was confused by this narrative surrounding his injury situation.
“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 told ESPN. “I just don’t understand why they think I’m faking an injury. It doesn’t make sense to me.”
The injury is legitimate. Higgins plans not to rush back onto the field to further risk damage. The NFL season is long, and Higgins will be back out there when he is ready.
“I want to go out there and give my teammates a hundred percent of Tee Higgins, you know what I’m saying?” Higgins said. “I don’t want to give them 50% and half-ass it just to be a presence on the field.”
Higgins was referring to the July 15 deadline. That was the final day teams and players on the franchise tag could reach a long-term deal. A deal didn’t get done, but it’s clear that he wants to be in Cincinnati, even if it is just for this one season, and produce to the best of his ability.
The 25-year-old has sought an extension in each of the past two offseasons. He requested a trade in March but signed the franchise tag on June 17, four days after the team’s mandatory minicamp ended.
Higgins has been one of the Bengals’ top offensive players in his first four seasons. 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.
Unfortunately, Higgins is no stranger to injuries. Last season, he suffered a fractured rib and a hamstring injury in Week 17 vs. the Chiefs.
The Bengals will now look to earn their first road victory of the season against the Chiefs.
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