‘Everybody’s Expectation Is Tee Is Going To Be Back’ – Bengals QB Joe Burrow Injects Optimism Into Higgins Discussion

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sat down Monday for his first news conference since the day after he suffered a season-ending wrist injury in November and said it’s still too early to get specific about his timeline for recovery, although he does expect to be throwing by the time OTAs begin in April.

He was clearer about another big decision that will affect him moving forward, which is the re-signing of wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Although it seemed to be more of a case of wishful thinking and Burrow trying to speak something into existence rather than information rooted in fact.

“Everybody’s expectation is Tee is going to be back,” Burrow said. “We’ll see. The offseason plays out in crazy ways you don’t expect. I’d love to have Tee back, and I know he wants to be back.”

Tee Higgins Leaves Bengals Locker Room Without Commenting on Future

Higgins declined to talk during Monday’s open locker room period. As defensive tackle DJ Reader was talking about his uncertain future, Higgins walked out of the Bengals locker room for what could be the final time.

The 2021 second-round pick is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 13, although the Bengals could block that from happening by using the franchise tag on him. The move would come with a guaranteed one-year contract of approximately $21 million — if Higgins signs the tag.

#Bengals QB Joe Burrow talks Tee Higgins and his thoughts on wherher he can be back next year. pic.twitter.com/YHVhkt1zM2

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) January 8, 2024

“It’s hard to imagine life without Tee Higgins,” head coach Zac Taylor said during his Monday news conference.

“Tee and I talked,” Taylor added. “I have no information on that. Those are things that evolve. That’s what the next two months are for: to get a chance to go in-depth with the roster and survey the future. I’m not trying to angle this any which way.

“That’s what we do, and that’s what (director of player personnel Duke Tobin) and all of them have been working on endlessly while we’re in season. Tee is a big part of what we’re doing, and it would be hard for him to imagine not being here.”

When it comes to Higgins, these are the options for the Bengals:

• Sign him to a long-term extension, which is something they were unable/unwilling to do last offseason.
• Do nothing and let him sign elsewhere, which likely would result in the Bengals getting a third-round compensatory pick in 2025.
• Use the franchise tag on him some time from when the window to do so opens Feb. 20 until the deadline of March 5, and continue to negotiate a long-term deal before that deadline expires in mid-July.
• Tag him and trade him, which likely would net a larger haul than a third-round comp pick.

MORE: Cincinnati Bengals Depth Chart

The latter option seems to be the most likely. Yes, it’s hard for Taylor and Burrow — not to mention the fanbase — to imagine this offense without Higgins as a part of it, but tough choices have to be made when the quarterback is on a mega deal while Ja’Marr Chase is on the cusp of resetting the wide receiver market.

A fifth option not addressed above would be for the team to tag Higgins and have the receiver refuse to sign it and sit out the season, or at least hold out for much of training camp in a repeat of what Jessie Bates did last year. Higgins and Bates have the same agent in David Mulugheta.

Whether Higgins would consider that is unclear because he understandably didn’t want to address his contract situation during Monday’s locker cleanout period.

For Bengals fans looking for a hint of optimism that Higgins could be a part of the 2024 team and possibly beyond, Burrow reiterated what he said shortly after signing his $275 million extension in September — that the deal was constructed with the idea of re-signing other weapons this offseason in mind.

“We made sure things were in place that we could if we needed to,” Burrow said.

“He’s a big part of what we have done here,” Burrow added. “It’s no secret our relationship. I expect Tee to be back. I think that’s the sentiment in the locker room. We all want Tee back. We know what kind of player he is. We know what kind of person he is. He’s what being a Bengal is all about. Like you said, we’ll see, but I think we should have a good opportunity.”

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