Latest news with #TeeHiggins
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- General
- NBC Sports
Tee Higgins: I plan on staying healthy because offense could be deadly
Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins got the long-term contract that he's been looking for this offseason and he's now focused on two goals for the 2025 season. Higgins told reporters on Tuesday that he wants 'to go do what they paid me to do' as a weapon in the passing game. Higgins had 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and those numbers could have been even bigger if he had not missed five games due to soft tissue injuries. Those absences lead Higgins to his second goal. He also missed five games during the 2023 season and he spent the early part of the offseason 'doing things that prevent those injuries happening' again this year because he knows what the Bengals can do if they are at full strength. 'I plan on staying healthy,' Higgins said, via Cincinnati Bengals Talk. 'Let's not say 'if.' Let's not do that. It's too early to be doing that. I plan on it. When I do, definitely could be deadly.' Offense wasn't the problem in Cincinnati last season and it's unlikely to be the issue in 2025 if Higgins is on the field the majority of the time. Whether that leads to a better outcome for the team is a tougher question to answer at this point in the calendar.
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Ja'Marr Chase willing to make changes in preseason for the Bengals to avoid another slow start
CINCINNATI (AP) — Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase said that while he doesn't want to play in the preseason, he understands that may be what's best for a Cincinnati team that has lost its first two games the past three seasons. 'It sounds like we need to play in the preseason,' Chase said on Tuesday after the Bengals wrapped up their first organized team activity practice. After starting 0-2 in 2022 and 2023 — seasons where the Bengals barely played their top players in the preseason — the Bengals used a similar approach last season and dropped their first three games en route to a 1-4 start. While many Bengals players were shaking off rust during the first few weeks of the 2024 season, Chase had added pressure. He opted to not participate in training camp as he tried to negotiate a contract extension. 'I wasn't mentally ready to be on the field,' Chase said. 'I was in my own head.' With Chase as well as wide receiver Tee Higgins now secured on long-term deals, Chase has much more peace of mind entering the 2025 season. Quarterback Joe Burrow was excited to see those contract extensions finalized early this offseason. 'It's great when you can reward guys who do it the right way, work really hard to go out and play great on Sundays and play great week in and week out,' Burrow said. 'It's great to have them for the next four years, and I will here, too, so we've got the core here, and that's exciting.' Chase won the receiving triple crown last season as he led the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdown catches (17). He said that he got back to playing with a 'chip' on his shoulder during the middle of last season, and he's trying to keep that mindset entering the 2025 season. 'I'm challenging myself, pushing the guys around me, learning more of the offense and learning more defenses,' Chase said. 'Seeing the small things from the defense in pre-snap tells.' Last season, even though Chase reached the statistical goals that he set for himself, the Bengals didn't make the playoffs. When Chase was asked about the goals that he's setting for 2025, he focused on team success. 'We didn't make the playoffs for two years straight,' Chase said. 'That's my chip (on my shoulder) right there.' Coach Zac Taylor said last week that having Chase and Higgins both under contract certainly provides the team with security, but it doesn't impact his job as a play caller. 'You're looking at this year. How can we be the best 2025 Bengals team,' he said. 'There's a lot of things, now that we get these guys in the system a little longer and not just Tee and Ja'Marr, we can continue to grow and tweak, and that's been a really good part of our offseason so far. I think it's still challenging to those guys who have been here for several years. Some of the new things that we're working on is good and it's pushing their boundaries a little bit, and they've taken it the right way.' NOTES: The Professional Football Writers Association announced on Tuesday that Burrow was selected as the winner of the George Halas Award. The award recognizes an NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed. Last season, Burrow recovered from a significant wrist surgery and went on to lead the NFL in passing yards with 4,918. He is the first member of the Bengals organization to receive the award since then-defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was recognized in 2010. ___ AP NFL:
Fox News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
NFL star Joe Burrow not fond of Bengals schedule: 'A little disappointing'
The Cincinnati Bengals entered last season with high expectations. After missing the postseason, the Bengals front office spent part of the offseason making sure quarterback Joe Burrow had plenty of weapons at his disposal. Around two months after re-signing Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals schedule was revealed. Burrow said he was disappointed by his team's schedule. The NFL released its full regular-season schedule for all 32 teams last Wednesday. While the NFL's international slate features the league's first-ever regular-season game in Spain, the Bengals will not be traveling overseas in 2025 — much to Burrow's disapproval. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback said he wanted an opportunity to play on the international stage this upcoming season. "To not have a stage like that is a little disappointing. I feel like I've consciously worked hard to try to grow the game internationally over the last 18 months or so," Burrow said. "Hopefully at some point in my career we can go over there." The signal caller also highlighted one of the three scheduled Thanksgiving games. The Bengals will be in Baltimore that night for a game against the Ravens. The contest will mark the fourth year in a row that the Bengals have competed in a nighttime road game against their AFC North divisional rival. "Playing in Baltimore for the fourth straight year in primetime isn't ideal," Burrow added. "Maybe we can get one of those in Cincinnati. Please." NFL owners have unanimously approved permission for players to participate in flag football for the 2028 Olympics. The vote at the spring meetings in Minnesota on Tuesday authorized the league to negotiate safety provisions and scheduling logistics with the NFL Players Association, the sport's international governing body and the relevant Olympic authorities before it becomes reality during the next Summer Games in Los Angeles. Burrow expressed excitement about the possibility of competing in the Olympics: "That's an exciting opportunity. I'm not entirely sure how that would work out with training camp and all of our obligations here," Burrow said. "But that's something I would like to do for sure." The Bengals went 9-8 last season. Cincinnati opens the 2025 season on the road against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 7. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Bengals star Trey Hendrickson refuses to play next season unless bitter contract dispute is resolved
Trey Hendrickson has claimed he will not play for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2025 season unless he reaches an agreement over a new contract. Hendrickson, an All-Pro defensive end, has been seeking an extension this offseason in Cincinnati, where receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins recently signed new deals totaling a combined $276million. The 30-year-old signed an extension in 2023 that will keep him in tiger stripes through the 2025 season with a base salary of $15.8m, which counts for $18.6m against Cincinnati's cap number. However, despite being one of the best defensive ends in the league, that figure makes him only the 26th highest-paid player in that position, with the four top earners all raking in over $100m per year. And according to Bengals beat writer Kelsey Conway, Hendrickson has no plans to line up for the team until his contract demands are met. Conway wrote on X Tuesday: 'Trey Hendrickson just finished talking. Plenty of takeaways but most importantly, Trey Hendrickson said he won't play the upcoming season on his current deal & wouldn't say one or the other if he would sit out games'. Trey Hendrickson just finished talking. Plenty of takeaways but most importantly, Trey Hendrickson said he won't play the upcoming season on his current deal & wouldn't say one or the other if he would sit out games — Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) May 13, 2025 Earlier this week, Hendrickson revealed contract talks with Bengals officials have broken down as the two parties struggle to agree an extension. 'No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft,' he told ESPN in a statement. 'The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. 'Coaches are aware of these past conversations,' he continued. 'Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that's hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.' The Bengals did add another defensive end, Shemar Stewart, in the first round of last month's NFL Draft, but lost another major talent at the position in Sam Hubbard, a Cincinnati native who retired in March. Prior to the draft, Cincinnati gave Hendrickson permission to seek a trade, but within weeks those talks were off the table, according to Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The former Florida Atlantic standout sounded optimistic about a new deal in early April despite failing to come to terms with the Bengals. 'I wouldn't call it frustrating,' Hendrickson told WLWT Cincinnati. 'It gives me an opportunity to prove my worth every season.' A two-time All-Pro selection, Hendrickson recorded 18 sacks in each of his last two seasons in Cincinnati, where he signed in 2021. 'I've been able to achieve All-Pro honors, Pro Bowl honors,' he told WLWT. 'It's been a heck of a ride and to play with some of the most talented players in the league like Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Sam Hubbard, Logan Wilson, BJ Hill, I could list every player, Ted Karras is on that list too. 'I'm just tremendously blessed, the relationships I've made. How ever it shakes out, there's nowhere I'd rather be.'
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson says extension talks have stalled: ‘No discussion and evident lack of interest'
Another week, another exchange of accusations between the Bengals and Trey Hendrickson. In what has become a regular occurrence as the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year seeks an extension of his current contract that expires this offseason, Hendrickson issued a statement to ESPN expressing his latest displeasure at the Bengals' level of communication and willingness to negotiate. Advertisement This comes after two appearances on the 'Pat McAfee Show' this offseason were filled with frustration directed toward the team as the two sides discuss his contract. 'No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft,' Hendrickson said in the statement. 'The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. Coaches are aware of these past conversations. Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that's hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.' Earlier this offseason, the Bengals signed Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase to lucrative extensions. Hendrickson was prioritized below them and seeks an extension of the one-year, $21 million in cash he will collect this season. When Cincinnati selected edge rusher Shemar Stewart in the first round of the draft, it set in motion the plan beyond Hendrickson, though the team still has hopes of keeping Hendrickson happy and in the fold. What that monetary point ends up being was the primary issue and one that Executive Vice President Katie Blackburn addressed at the owner's meetings. 'I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn't think he'd be happy at,' Blackburn said. 'I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he's not, you know, that's what holds it up sometimes. So, you know, it takes him to say yes to something, and also, we have all the respect in the world for him. He's been a great player. We're happy to have him. And so maybe we'll find a way to get something to work. We're just gonna see where it goes.' Advertisement That prompted an appearance on McAfee, where Hendrickson expressed disappointment in the words of Blackburn. Last week, NFL Network's Ian Rappaport stated the two sides have been in communication, which Hendrickson took issue with in deciding to issue a statement. The soap opera appears to have no end in sight and will track toward training camp and the regular season to see how far Hendrickson will take his frustration with the team. There's no precedent here or reason to believe the Bengals will budge on their stance. The opportunity to trade Hendrickson was back when he was permitted to seek one before free agency. Any deal would be exponentially more difficult now, even with Stewart in the building. He's still a raw prospect who led the team in pressures, but still only tallied 1 1/2 sacks at Texas A&M before setting the combine ablaze with his testing numbers. The regular public tennis match isn't doing anybody any favors, not Hendrickson, the team or the exhausted fans. It's also a game that will likely continue for the foreseeable future, with no reason to believe this statement will have any impact on Cincinnati's stance.
