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Tee Higgins injury update: Bengals WR 'optimistic' to play against Broncos

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•12/28/24•

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Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Tee Higgins is “optimistic” he will play Saturday for the Cincinnati Bengals against the Denver Broncos.

He’s been dinged up with knee and ankle issues but has regularly played over the last month. So, he should be good to go as the Bengals try to keep their playoff hopes alive.

He came into Saturday questionable to play.

“Tee Higgins is optimistic that he will play,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “The Bengals are expecting him to play after having a productive week of practice. Was limited all week, but I was told from the source, he got better every day on his knee and ankle issues, nothing major, but just something he had to fight through. He’s been a little touch and go throughout the year, but this is one of the top three agents in 2025 he can make himself even more money these final games … Should have Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins ready to put up those 30 points. Slim playoff hopes, still alive, Higgins will be out there.”

Higgins reeled in eight catches for 58 yards and a touchdown last week in a 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns. Overall, he has 58 catches for 727 yards, seven touchdowns and 12.5 yards per catch this season.

Higgins could command big money in the offseason, as Fowler alluded to. He’s playing the 2024 season under the franchise tag.

Higgins will earn a fully-guaranteed $21.816 million this year. The NFL pre-determines these salaries and they’re based on the average of the top five salaries at the position or 120 percent of the player’s previous salary, whichever is higher. 

Playing today could help the Bengals make the playoffs with two games remaining. So with Higgins in the lineup, Cincinnati certainly has a shot to beat Denver.

But in order for the Bengals to get into the AFC bracket, they’ll need to win out, including a win over Denver, have the Broncos lose next week and need one loss each from the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins.

Likely? Not so much. A possibility? Sure thing. But, it starts with Higgins and the Bengals putting up big numbers Saturday to put away a young and hungry Broncos squad.