Tee Higgins

Joe Burrow To Lobby Bengals To Re-Sign Tee Higgins

December 10th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Ja’Marr Chase‘s run of monster games bolstering his case to surpass Justin Jefferson as the NFL’s highest-paid receiver, the prospect the Bengals separate their long-running wide receiver tandem increases. Higgins has long been expected to leave Cincinnati in 2025, be it in free agency or potentially via a tag-and-trade transaction.

The Bengals have Joe Burrow signed to the second-most lucrative quarterback deal, and Chase is playing his way toward a contract that will likely eclipse Jefferson’s $35MM-per-year pact. The Bengals have not seriously negotiated with Higgins since the first half of 2023, and in becoming the only team to tag a player this year and not extend him, the team cannot reenter talks with its No. 2 wideout until season’s end.

Signs point Higgins out of town, but Burrow said he will make a strong effort to see that his most experienced receiver stays. This could set up an interesting showdown, as the star quarterback obviously could wield significant influence in this matter and others involving personnel if he so chose.

“Those discussions are ongoing,” Burrow said (via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby) of a post-2024 future with Higgins. “I’m confident that I think we’re going to do what it takes to bring Tee back. I know that I’m going to do what it takes to get him back and so is he. We’ve had those talks. Those are going to be offseason discussions. But I think we’re excited about that opportunity.”

NFL rules prohibit Bengals brass from negotiating with Higgins, but Burrow can certainly lobby his five-year teammate to stay. That will be difficult to pull off, however. The Bengals’ Chase-over-Higgins preference in terms of extension priority has long been known, with the former’s All-Pro-level season only reinforcing that stance. Higgins, 25, also will not be likely to accept a hometown discount. The Bengals kept him out of free agency this year via the franchise tag, and if the team passes on a 2025 tag (as the early rumors indicated it would), the bet will be Higgins defects not long after the legal tampering period begins.

Higgins did say he will factor in his relationship with Burrow and the Bengals, but the team made him a lowball offer in 2023 — a deal not believed to be close to $20MM on average. It will take more than $20MM per year for a team to land the former second-round pick in free agency.

“Like y’all said, this could be my last season [with the Bengals], so I definitely appreciated it, for sure,” Higgins said of playing another nationally televised game with Burrow and Co. “I love those guys to death. … The relationships are more important. Financially, that’s going to come.”

Higgins’ 58.9 yards-per-game number is in line with what he averaged during his most recent 1,000-yard season (2022), when he posted 59.6 per contest. But injury trouble took him off the field for five games, keeping his yardage total at 581 through 13 games. Higgins will also follow Packers wideout Christian Watson‘s lead in going through a study to determine the cause of his recent soft-tissue injury trouble, Baby adds. Higgins trudged through hamstring issues as a rookie and then missed time in 2023 and ’24. Higgins suffered hamstring and quadriceps injuries during separate practices this season, sidelining him for five games in total.

A strong finish will drive up the Clemson alum’s market. Higgins stands to be the top WR free agent prize, should the Bengals pass on a second tag that would come in at $26.2MM. His current $21.8MM number proved more palatable for the Bengals due to Burrow’s extension not yet producing big cap numbers. In 2025, however, Burrow’s cap hit will swell to $46.3MM.

The Bengals are not a restructure-happy team, but Burrow pushing them could at least keep the door open to a restructure — pushing more money into future years — to create more cap space for a second Higgins tag. That might not go over too well with Higgins, who would then see the team take two free agency years away, but it would be a way for Cincinnati to retain its WR2 for a bit longer.

It will be interesting to see what kind of role Burrow plays, and how receptive the organization is to its quarterback’s wishes. Defensive changes are likely coming to help maximize Burrow’s skills, after Cincy’s defense restricted this year’s team. How the club navigates the Higgins matter will also be a key issue, as it could impact Burrow’s satisfaction with management.

Tee Higgins Expected To Leave Bengals In 2025

November 13th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Ja’Marr Chase still on a rookie contract and Joe Burrow‘s extension not set to produce lofty cap numbers until 2025, the Bengals took advantage of circumstances to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins. Of the nine franchise- or transition-tagged players this year, Higgins became the only one not extended.

This rental setup has never looked likely to lead to a long-term deal, with a low-ball extension offer underwhelming Cincinnati’s No. 2 wideout. The sides are not believed to have engaged in substantive discussions since early 2023. As Chase puts together a dominant season that should probably be expected to net him the NFL’s top receiver contract in 2025, Higgins looks to be on the verge of relocating. The prospect of a second franchise tag looms, but it would be pricey for the Bengals.

As it stands, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the expectation is for Higgins to be elsewhere next year. Going further, Fowler offers that there is “little to no chance” Higgins is a Bengal beyond 2024. This prospect raises the stakes for the former second-round pick, whom the Bengals denied from testing free agency this year. If permitted to reach the market in 2025, Higgins figures to do very well.

The Bengals are projected to hold more than $65MM in cap space next year; that accounts for Chase’s fifth-year option number and Burrow’s cap spike. Chase counts $21.82MM on Cincy’s 2025 cap, with that number matching Higgins’ current franchise tender. Burrow’s cap hit will balloon from $29.6MM this year to $46.3MM in 2025. Still, it should not necessarily be considered a lock the Bengals pass on a tag-and-trade scenario for Higgins, as the two-time 1,000-yard receiver could certainly fetch an asset if moved that way.

Cincinnati would need to weigh how a $26.2MM Higgins tag for next year would affect its budget and whether the return would would match a potential third-round compensatory pick, one that would arrive in 2026. The Packers collected first- and second-round picks from the Raiders for Davante Adams in 2022. Higgins is not in that class, but the Dolphins received a third-rounder for Jarvis Landry in a tag-and-trade scenario in 2018. That would seem realistic for a player who has been valuable to the Bengals’ 2020s resurgence. Those are the only two WR tag-and-trade moves over the past 10 years.

Higgins, 25, has some work to do to hit 1,000 yards during the season’s second half. He is sitting on 341, having missed five games due to injuries. These issues will affect his market, though plenty of teams will be interested in a player who has long been considered a potential No. 1 wideout playing in the role of a WR2 thanks to Chase’s presence. Higgins totaled 1,091 yards in 2021 and helped the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI; he then hit 1,029 to boost the team back to the AFC championship game. A 2023 season plagued by injury and Burrow’s wrist setback limited Higgins last year, and no significant extension talks transpired this offseason.

Teams called on Higgins at the past two deadlines; the Bengals, as expected, did not bite. Higgins remains key to Cincy’s hopes at steering this season toward a wild-card berth. The 6-foot-4 weapon joined Trey Hendrickson in requesting a trade this offseason but soon acknowledged he considered an exit unlikely. The Bengals are not believed to have offered a deal that came especially close to $20MM per year when negotiating in 2023. With the market having spiked (and with Chase’s likely 2025 extension poised to raise the ceiling higher), Higgins should expect to do better than $20MM per annum if he tests the market next year.

The Bengals have not seen Jermaine Burton progress much as a rookie but have seen sporadic production from 2023 sixth-rounder Andrei Iosivas, who has 17 receptions for 228 yards and four touchdowns this season. With a potential Higgins exit on the radar for a while, the Bengals have had time to map out their receiver situation. They would still likely pursue more help to replace Higgins, and it looks like — whether a separation comes through a free agency defection or a tag-and-trade maneuver — that reality will come to pass next year.

Examining Final Stage Of WR Trade Market

October 31st, 2024 at 10:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

The top dominoes on the wide receiver trade market have likely fallen. Third-round picks changed hands in the Davante Adams and Amari Cooper swaps, and DeAndre Hopkins will join Adams as a Hall of Fame candidate — one who can now bolster his case by moving the needle for a Chiefs threepeat bid.

Diontae Johnson also wound up in a second trade this year, albeit for lower-than-expected compensation. This offseason also brought the likes of Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen and Jerry Jeudy being traded, marking another busy year — both contractually and transactionally — at the position.

More pieces figure to be moved before the deadline. Here is where things stand with the remaining trade chips at the receiver position:

Likely departures

Darius Slayton, Giants

This Giants regime attempted to move on from Slayton two years ago, leaving the proven target out of the starting lineup into training camp and cutting his pay on a rookie contract. Slayton ended up mattering quite a bit in Brian Daboll‘s first year, which produced a surprise playoff berth despite Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay producing next to nothing and Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson suffering season-ending injuries. Slayton, as he has throughout his career, remained a reliable albeit unspectacular Daniel Jones weapon. Slayton, 27, has led the Giants in receiving four times since being a 2019 fifth-round pick but has never eclipsed 800 yards, illustrating the long-running issues plaguing this aerial attack.

Malik Nabers arrived as a result of those issues (and the Patriots passing on the Giants’ trade-up bid for Drake Maye), but Slayton has not been marginalized. The sixth-year wideout, with 420 yards in eight games, is on pace for a career-high total. He continues to aid Jones, but with the Giants falling to 2-6 and having a Commanders matchup on tap, teams will call on Slayton. Linked to several big-name receivers this year, the Steelers are believed to be interested. The Texans may be lurking as well.

Just more than $1.3MM remains on Slayton’s through-2024 contract, and although a recent report pointed to a high asking price, this remains the best chance for the Giants to collect an asset for a player they did not extend — despite the veteran’s efforts to secure better terms — this offseason.

Mike Williams, Jets

Williams is 30, coming off an ACL tear and on a team that has rendered him to the periphery following the Adams acquisition. The free agency pickup combined for one reception since Adams’ Week 7 debut and has just 11 catches for 160 yards in eight games as a Jet. With Allen Lazard regaining steam with Aaron Rodgers healthy, it is unsurprising the Jets started shopping Williams in earnest immediately after the Adams trade. Just more than $2.3MM will remain on the former top-10 pick’s contract after tonight’s game; the Jets will wait until after their Week 9 matchup to see if a worthwhile offer emerges.

Considering the rumor volume here, enough smoke exists to predict a second Williams separation from a team this year. The Saints and Steelers have pursued him, though at 2-6, New Orleans no longer profiles as a buyer despite being in on Adams weeks ago. The Jets also are in a seller’s position, though GM Joe Douglas‘ job being on the line may keep the subtractions to a minimum. The Chargers are 4-3 and have inquired about bringing the 2017 draftee back, despite cutting him in March.

Lazard’s Thursday IR placement does throw a wrench in teams’ potential plans to trade for Williams. He was previously viewed as a near-certainty to be dealt. It would be interesting if that injury prompted the Jets to take Williams off the market due to the high-stakes circumstances tied to this season.

A to-be-determined Patriot

Three separate Pats wideouts — K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton and trade-rumor fixture Kendrick Bourne — have been tied to potential moves. At 2-6, New England will need to aim for some moves before next week’s deadline. Bourne, 29, has indicated he would like to stay to help the team’s Drake Maye-fronted rebuild. In addition to Thornton being one of many highly drafted Bill Belichick wideouts who have failed to take off in Foxborough, second-year target Kayshon Boutte has griped about his role.

This fluid situation will almost definitely involve one trade. Osborn, Bourne’s rumor regularity notwithstanding, may be the more likely veteran piece New England deals. The Pats are believed to be shopping he and Bourne, despite the latter having re-signed (on a three-year, $19MM deal) in March. The 49ers, who wanted Bourne back during Brandon Aiyuk trade talks with the Patriots this summer, appear to be standing down at the position following Aiyuk’s injury. The Pats signed Osborn for one year and $4MM, but just $1.18MM consists of base salary, providing relative value for teams, as Osborn has two 600-plus-yard seasons as a Vikings slot on his resume.

Calls coming in

Tee Higgins, Bengals

Carson Palmer‘s quasi-retirement and a Jason Campbell injury producing a monster offer (first- and second-rounders) brought the Bengals to make a deadline trade; Carlos Dunlap becoming a malcontent before the 2020 deadline keyed another such move. Teams have asked about Higgins for a while, as the former second-rounder requested a trade in March. Despite a failure to complete an extension with Ja’Marr Chase this offseason, the Bengals have made it clear the younger WR is their long-term priority.

Higgins is tied to a $21.8MM franchise tag tender, being the only 2024 tag recipient not extended this offseason. Couple that $10MM-plus salary number, if traded after Week 9, and the Bengals’ past and it is a mortal lock the longtime Chase wingman finishes the season in Cincinnati. Higgins, 25, could be re-tagged in 2025, giving the Bengals another window to move on if/once they hold onto him at this year’s deadline.

Cooper Kupp, Rams

The Rams made news earlier this month by both confirming they had received calls on Kupp and a separate report suggesting the team was shopping him. The Chiefs, Bills and Steelers are among the teams to discuss Kupp with the Rams; Kansas City is believed to have preferred Kupp to the player ultimately acquired (Hopkins). But the Rams have won two straight, the second of which featuring Kupp and Puka Nacua back at work.

Sean McVay has all but confirmed Kupp is not going anywhere, and the Rams — who had wanted a return that surpassed the Adams price (conditional third-round pick) — have the former triple-crown winner signed through 2026.

D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks

At this season’s outset, Deebo Samuel appeared much less likely than Metcalf to play out a three-year contract inked during training camp in 2022. Now, Samuel is back as the 49ers’ No. 1 wideout (thanks to Aiyuk’s injury) and Metcalf is drawing trade interest. Calls have come in on the sixth-year pass catcher, who is tied to a three-year, $72MM extension that runs through 2025. The Seahawks, however, are not expected to move their top wideout.

Paired with Tyler Lockett for six seasons, Metcalf is a more appealing trade option due to his age (26). Lockett is 32, and while it is worth wondering the Seahawks would be more amenable to moving the older player, no rumors have swirled there. Seattle has hired a new coaching staff and would drop to 4-5 with a loss to Los Angeles this weekend, but it appears the Mike Macdonald-run team will stick with the big-bodied target throughout the season before potentially reassessing ahead of his contract year.

On trade radar

Jakobi Meyers, Raiders

The Raiders did extensive work on the past two quarterback classes, going elsewhere in 2023 and then seeing an effort to trade up for Jayden Daniels predictably fail this year. Las Vegas is between eras at quarterback, with a flood of rumors set to tie the team to the 2025 class undoubtedly coming soon.

The team already picked up a Jets 2025 third-rounder, but with Meyers initially signed to continue working under his three-year Patriots OC (Josh McDaniels), he makes sense as a trade chip as well. Although the Raiders were rumored to want to keep the sixth-year vet, teams are monitoring his status. The Texans, whose GM (Nick Caserio) was in place when the Pats signed Meyers as a UDFA, may be one of them. Meyers’ three-year, $33MM deal runs through 2025; no guarantees are on the accord post-2024.

Josh Palmer, Chargers

Drafted by current Raiders GM Tom Telesco, Palmer is not believed to be in the Jim Harbaugh-run Chargers’ plans much longer. The former third-round pick has been productive in recent years, as injuries to Mike Williams and Keenan Allen proved frequent in that span.

Capable of playing inside and outside, Palmer would be of interest to a team that misses on Slayton — if, in fact, the six-year Giant is moved. The Bolts are believed to be open trading Palmer, potentially wanting someone else to fill in alongside new top target Ladd McConkey. Palmer appears likely to leave as a free agent in March, so it is logical — even at 4-3 — for the Chargers to consider moving on now.

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

Never one to be excluded from rumors during one of the NFL’s trade windows, Sutton remains the Broncos’ top wideout. His purpose is now boosting Bo Nix‘s development, which is going better than most expected. As Nix won NFL Rookie of the Month honors for October, Sutton is still coming up as a candidate to be moved. The Steelers are interested, to the point they may have the ex-Russell Wilson weapon as their lead trade target. This is old hat for the seventh-year player, who has been coming up in trade rumors since the 2022 deadline. Sean Payton confirmed his WR1 drew more interest this year.

Sutton, 29, is tied to a four-year, $60MM deal — one that has become rather team-friendly, especially with no 2025 guarantees in place — that features just a $1.13MM base salary. Because the Broncos restructured the deal for cost-saving purposes, Sutton would tag them with more than $15MM in dead money — an amount that would be spread between this year and next in the event of a trade. The low salary would appeal to trade suitors, but with Wilson set to count more than $30MM against the Broncos’ 2025 cap, taking on another chunk of dead money now would be a curious strategy. Sutton’s exit would come as strange due to his importance to Nix’s growth and the Broncos having declined a third-round offer from the 49ers in August.

Jonathan Mingo, Adam Thielen, Panthers

Thielen is a 34-year-old receiver on a Panthers team early in a rebuild. No guarantees remain on the ex-Viking’s three-year, $25MM contract for 2025, making him a logical trade candidate. This topic came up recently, and despite the Panthers trading Johnson already, it is doubtful they would pass on offers to keep Thielen, who profiles as a 2025 cut candidate. The former Minnesota UDFA, who tacked on a third 1,000-yard season to his resume last season, remains in the IR-return window after a hamstring injury.

A 2023 second-round pick who has not thus far justified his draft slot, Mingo came up recently as a player who is probably not part of the Panthers’ long-term plans. Mingo may have more trade value, despite the accomplishment gap between these Carolina targets, due to his age and contract status. The Ole Miss alum’s rookie deal runs through 2026, though he is sitting on just 12 catches for 121 yards despite not missing a game this season.

Bengals Not Planning Any Deadline Trades

October 30th, 2024 at 6:21pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bengals currently sit at 3-5 and face an uphill battle to make the playoffs, and the front office isn’t planning to help (or hurt) the team’s aspirations. According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, the organization doesn’t “have plans to make moves with the trade deadline approaching.”

As Dehner writes, the Bengals front office doesn’t have any intention of “waving the white flag,” but they also don’t intend to give up draft assets that may help them in the future. The organization believes there’s still a path to the playoffs with their current roster, and they’ll rely on their young pieces to patch any weaknesses.

Specifically, the team will be hoping for elevated play from 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy and 2021 third-round pick Joseph Ossai on the edge, and they’ll be counting on second-round rookie Kris Jenkins to add some interior DL help opposite Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill. The team has also made some OL tweaks via the practice squad circuit, and Dehner believes they’ll continue to tap into that well moving forward.

Similarly, the Bengals won’t deal any of their popular trade candidates, including wideout Tee Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson. As Dehner observes, the Bengals have been reluctant to make in-season sales. The team has sold off only a pair of disgruntled players over the past 13 deadlines: quarterback Carson Palmer in 2011 and defensive end Carlos Dunlap in 2020. Those players effectively had “hostile relationship[s] beyond repair,” and those issues aren’t apparent on this year’s squad.

Dehner also points to the lost 2019 season, when the Bengals refused to sell veteran wideout A.J. Green and veteran defensive tackle Geno Atkins despite clearly being out of it by the trade deadline. While the front office has changed their thinking on some antiquated mentalities (like their approach to QB contracts), Dehner believes the team will be stubborn with their deadline strategy…a factor that bodes well for Higgins and Hendrickson still being on the squad next week.

Teams Calling Bengals About Tee Higgins; No Trade Expected

October 29th, 2024 at 9:50am CST by Adam La Rose

The wide receiver trade market has seen multiple high-profile moves made already. Davante Adams, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins are no longer available, but several other wideouts are at least receiving interest as the deadline approaches.

That includes Tee Higgins, who is playing on the franchise tag in 2024. Teams are calling the Bengals about Higgins, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post writes. To little surprise, though, he adds that suitors do not expect Cincinnati to authorize a trade sending Higgins elsewhere.

Every other franchise tag recipient from 2024 wound up signing a contract to remain with their respective teams for 2024 and beyond. The lone exception was Higgins, and at no point this offseason did team and player appear close to reaching agreement on a deal. The Bengals’ most notable extension efforts came in 2023, and they did not reach $20MM per season on average.

The WR market has seen multiple financial surges recently, and at the age of 25 Higgins could stand to cash in considerably as a free agent. He could easily surpass the value the Bengals have for him, especially with Ja’Marr Chase still in need of a long-term accord. Talks with the latter took place up until the start of the regular season, but no agreement was reached. Chase currently leads the NFL in receiving yards, and he could very well find himself as the league’s highest-paid receiver on his second contract.

Higgins was limited to 12 games last year, and in 2024 a hamstring injury delayed his season debut. The Clemson product has racked up 341 yards and three touchdowns so far this season, and remaining productive alongside Chase will be key for the Bengals’ efforts to reach the playoffs. After starting 0-3, the team now sits at 3-5 on the year. That could lead to a seller’s stance in the build-up to next week’s deadline, but Higgins genuinely being available would be a surprise.

Any contending team would no doubt look to add Higgins not only as a rental but as a long-term investment in the passing game. The Jets, Bills and Chefs have each already added in that regard, but several suitors could still make a push to add over the coming days.

Tee Higgins Expected To Play In Week 3

September 21st, 2024 at 10:02pm CST by Ben Levine

Tee Higgins is set to make his season debut on Monday night. Bengals coach Zac Taylor confirmed that the wide receiver is “good to go” for Week 3, per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Higgins missed the Bengals first two games while dealing with a hamstring injury that popped up during a Week 1 practice. The receiver finally returned to practice this past week, and while he was limited, he admitted that he’s back to feeling 100 percent.

“I feel great,” Higgins said yesterday (via ESPN’s Ben Baby). “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’ absence raised some eyebrows following an offseason where he was slapped with the franchise tag. The two sides ultimately couldn’t agree to a long-term deal, and Higgins’ sudden injury came on the heels of the Ja’Marr Chase drama. Higgins made it clear that his absence had nothing to do with his contract, noting that the injury was worse than initially feared. In fact, the impending free agent was especially motivated to take the field as soon as possible.

“That’s why I was so bummed out that it happened because it was something I focused on this offseason for it not to happen, and it did, but I’m back now so it’s cool,” Higgins said last week (via Baby).

The former 1,000-yard receiver will be counted on to provide a spark to an offense that’s scored three touchdowns in two games. With Higgins out of the lineup, the team has been especially reliant on tight end Mike Gesicki and second-year WR Andrei Iosivas, with Trenton Irwin and rookie third-round pick Jermaine Burton also garnering some extra targets.

NFL Injury Updates: Higgins, Herbert, Seahawks

September 20th, 2024 at 9:05pm CST by Ely Allen

The Bengals have operated through the first two weeks of the season without two of their top targets from the 2023 NFL season. Tyler Boyd found his way to Tennessee in free agency, and Tee Higgins has missed the first two games of the year with a hamstring injury. Quarterback Joe Burrow will be happy to see one of the two return in Week 3 against the Commanders, according to Ben Baby of ESPN.

Higgins has been limited at practice throughout this past week, but the fifth-year wideout claimed that “he feels 100% healthy and…should be able to play at full strength” this Monday night. Higgins broke 1,000 yards receiving in his second NFL season despite missing three games, and he’ll be challenged to do so in 2024 after missing two already.

Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase may be just as happy to see Higgins as Burrow is. The only major receiving threat in the team’s first two games, Chase has been limited to 10 catches for 97 yards so far this season. Andrei Iosivas and Trenton Irwin have been the beneficiaries of Higgins’ missed time, and they’ll hope that their early efforts have earned them some targets as WR3 and WR4 moving forward.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been seen very little at practice this week after getting rolled up on in last week’s game. Per James Palmer of Bleacher Report, Herbert told reporters he had been dealing with a high ankle sprain. Herbert also mentioned that a decision hasn’t been made yet on whether or not he’ll play this Sunday.
The Seahawks will likely be without four starters in Week 3. Running back Kenneth Walker and linebacker Jerome Baker are both doubtful, while outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and right tackle George Fant have already been ruled out. Per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, Walker could return in Week 4 after missing two contests. ESPN’s Brady Henderson adds that the team is hopeful Nwosu will be back by then, too. He’s reportedly “progressing really quickly,” according to head coach Mike Macdonald.

Injury Notes: Bears, Walker, Murray, Bosa

September 11th, 2024 at 9:17pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears got good news surrounding the knee injury that knocked Rome Odunze out of Sunday’s season opener. Per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the rookie wide receiver suffered a Grade 1 knee sprain, the “best-case scenario” for the team and player.

Odunze suffered his MCL injury while blocking for Velus Jones Jr. during a fourth-quarter screen pass. The rookie stayed in the game for one additional play before exiting for good. The wideout is officially considered week-to-week, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and there’s been no indication that the ninth-overall pick will have a stay on injured reserve. Coach Matt Eberflus said the Bears were “lucky” to avoid a serious injury, and he even kept the door open to Odunze playing in Week 2.

Wednesday’s injury report also showed that fellow receiver Keenan Allen didn’t practice while nursing a heel injury. Eberflus later clarified that the wideout was considered day-to-day, and there’s hope the offseason acquisition can hit the practice field on Thursday and Friday following his day off.

In the unlikely event that both Odunze and Allen are sidelined, the Bears’ deep wide receiver grouping will be down to just D.J. Moore. Rookie QB Caleb Williams is certainly hoping for his full arsenal of wideouts following an NFL debut where he completed only 14 of 29 pass attempts for 93 yards.

More injury notes from around the NFL…

Kenneth Walker left Sunday’s game with an oblique injury and didn’t practice on Wednesday, per the Seahawks‘ injury report. Mike Macdonald said the running back is day-to-day (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson), but another missed practice would obviously put the player’s Week 2 availability in doubt. Walker exited the season opener after compiling 103 rushing yards and one touchdown. Zach Charbonnet finished the game at running back, scoring a 30-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Kyler Murray was a full participant at today’s practice, but the Cardinals QB still showed up on the injury report with a knee injury. Murray, of course, suffered an ACL injury during the 2022 campaign, and 2024 represented his first healthy offseason in a few years. Murray didn’t miss a snap on Sunday, and it seemed like his knee was in good shape after he ran for 57 yards. Clayton Tune is the only other QB currently on the active roster.
The Chargers announced that Joey Bosa was a limited participant at Wednesday’s practice while dealing with a back injury. The pass rusher appeared in 60 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in Week 1, collecting a sack and a forced fumble along the way. The long-time Charger has been snake bitten by injuries over the past few years, missing 20 total games.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport passes along a list of other notable players who didn’t practice on Wednesday, including Bengals receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring), Chiefs receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder), Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle), Packers quarterback Jordan Love (MCL), and Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip/hamstring).

Bengals, WR Ja’Marr Chase Will Not Agree To Extension Prior To Week 1

September 8th, 2024 at 10:21am CST by Rory Parks

Despite some optimism that the Bengals and star wideout Ja’Marr Chase would finalize an extension prior to today’s regular season opener against the Patriots, that is not expected to happen, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Chase, who was listed as questionable for the New England contest due to an illness, is active, although veteran NFL reporter James Palmer says that the three-time Pro Bowler will be limited.

Chase, 24, is under contract through the 2025 season by virtue of the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, but the LSU product is looking to take advantage of the booming wide receiver market and land a lucrative new contract. Despite the remaining club control, the Bengals have shown a willingness to negotiate with their WR1, and talks have been ongoing for months.

On Friday, Chase himself indicated that an extension is “in reach,” which reflects the increased efforts that Cincinnati has made to resolve the matter in recent days. Those efforts include a reportedly significant offer that was not significant enough to get a deal done.

It is unclear whether negotiations will continue into the regular season. Schefter’s report merely indicated that an agreement would not be struck prior to kickoff today, whereas NFL insider Jordan Schultz appears to suggest that talks will be tabled now that the season is underway. Schultz says, “after months of negotiations, the two sides couldn’t bridge the gap, and Cincinnati was unwilling to compromise.” As such, Schultz’s sources tell him that a deal is “not expected.”

Chase has previously indicated he is prepared to play out the 2024 campaign without an extension in hand, and he may have to do just that. However, given the progress the two sides seem to have made, it is fair to expect that a new deal will be reached at some point in the relatively near future, and that Chase will soon be at or near the top of the WR contractual hierarchy.

Although the Bengals are favored to top the rebuilding Patriots today, they will be short-handed at the receiver position. As noted above, Chase’s workload will be limited, and Cincinnati will be without WR2 Tee Higgins, who is dealing with a hamstring ailment. 2024 will be a platform year for Higgins, who is widely expected to be squeezed out of the picture in Cincinnati given the club’s anticipated commitment to Chase.

Bengals, Tee Higgins Will Not Reach Extension Agreement

July 14th, 2024 at 10:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Every player but one who received a franchise or transition tag this offseason wound up agreeing to a multi-year deal. The lone exception was Bengals wideout Tee Higgins, who signed his one-year tender last month.

That decision left team and player available to negotiate a long-term deal, but at the time it remained a longshot such an agreement would be reached. The deadline for tagged players to sign a new contract is July 15, but no last-minute development is expected in Higgins’ case. The 25-year-old will play on the tag in 2024 without a deal in hand, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Having already signed the tag, Higgins will be required to attend training camp – unlike players who have previously declined to sign the tender even past the deadline for long-term deals to be finalized. The former second-rounder’s Bengals future has long been in question with Ja’Marr Chase in need of a monster extension as early as this offseason. Keeping he and Higgins in the fold while quarterback Joe Burrow plays out his market-topping extension would be a steep salary cap challenge. Cincinnati’s last Higgins extension efforts came more than one year ago, and offers did not reach the $20MM AAV mark.

For that reason, many expect the Clemson alum to use the 2024 season as a springboard to a free agent departure next spring. Higgins requested a trade in March, but it soon became clear the Bengals would not explore moving him. Based on his comments earlier in the spring, it comes as no surprise team and player now find themselves in a situation which will likely amount to a one-year rental. Cincinnati will, of course, have the option of applying a second franchise tag in 2025.

Higgins will receive $21.82MM this year, and a second tag would cost just over $26MM in 2025. The receiver market experienced another surge this offseason with three players topping the $30MM-per-year mark. A Chase extension will be in that neighborhood, taking away flexibility for a Higgins deal. The latter produced at least 908 yards in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, proving to an effective complement to Chase. Higgins produced career lows across the board in an injury-shortened 2023 campaign, but a bounce-back this year would set him up well on the open market.

The Bengals will have a new third receiver in 2024 given the absence of Tyler Boyd. Regardless of who ends up filling that role, Higgins could see a slight uptick in usage as he attempts to showcase himself to outside suitors. Cincinnati’s offense is on track to have a healthy Burrow, something which will raise expectations for the unit. Higgins’ presence will help the team’s passing game, but signs continue to point to this campaign being his last with the Bengals.

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