Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins delivered a standout performance against Denver on Saturday, amassing 11 receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns, including a dramatic walk-off, 3-yard touchdown that secured a thrilling 30-24 overtime victory. This game marked one of the high points of his NFL career.
However, it may have also been Higgins’ last home game in a Bengals uniform, as he is set to enter free agency this offseason. The uncertainty surrounding his future adds an emotional layer to his recent success.
Reflecting on the possibility of departure, Higgins expressed, “It could be my last game playing here in this stadium with stripes on. I wanted to go out with a bang… hopefully, it’s not [the end], but you never know what the future holds. You can’t go out any better way.”
This season, Higgins has played in 11 games, missing five due to hamstring and quad injuries. He has recorded 69 receptions for 858 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns, contributing to Cincinnati’s impressive average of 274.6 passing yards per game, the highest in the NFL.
In the previous season, Higgins also faced challenges, missing five games due to rib and hamstring issues. Over the last two years (2021-22), he averaged 74 catches for 1,060 yards and seven touchdowns each season. The Bengals placed the franchise tag on him last offseason, but a revised one-year, $21.8 million contract was reached in June.
Cincinnati is also managing a complicated contract situation with fellow star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who currently leads the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Chase’s holdout during the summer adds further intrigue, as he remains eligible for an extension. The Bengals are estimated to have about $60 million in salary cap space. Recent high-profile contracts for players like Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb, both three-time Pro Bowlers, may serve as benchmarks for Chase’s future deal.
After a rocky start to the season at 4-8, the Bengals have rallied to win four straight games, reigniting their playoff hopes. They can secure a postseason berth by defeating Pittsburgh on the road while hoping for a Denver loss against Kansas City, who may rest starters after clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Additionally, Cincinnati would need both Indianapolis and Miami to lose or tie one of their final two games. Regardless, the Bengals will not host another home game this season, as their path to the playoffs hinges on securing the No. 3 wild-card seed at best.
