Tee Higgins Shares Cryptic Post Amid Speculation On Bengals Future

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins shared a cryptic post on his Instagram account amid uncertainty regarding his future with the team.

Higgins, 25, who made multiple trade requests this offseason after being franchise-tagged, shared a photo of himself with the caption, “I tell em no, they can’t wait to call me selfish…” The Instagram carousel included multiple photos of Higgins working out days after he and fellow wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase were absent from the Bengals' OTAs.

“[They] are still working hard elsewhere, and they’ll be back at the right times,” said head coach Zac Taylor when asked about Higgins and Chase's absence, via ESPN. “And the beauty is we know those guys, we know what they’re about and that they’ll be ready and focused when it’s time to come back.”

Reports of Higgins' most recent trade request came hours ahead of the first-round of the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25. The wide receiver had previously requested a trade in March after recently being franchise tagged by the Bengals.

Cincinnati notified Higgins of its intention to apply the franchise tag on February 26. The former second-round pick was reportedly expected to be paid around $21.8 million for the 2024 season as part of the franchise tag, though many suspected it could've instead been used a placeholder for the Bengals to negotiate a long-term extension before the mid-July deadline.

Higgins appeared in just 11 games in 2023 due to rib and hamstring injuries, but was once again productive, recording 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns during his fourth NFL season.