<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/bengals-news-tee-higgins-couldnt-believe-terrible-offensive-stats-week-1');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bengals’ Tee Higgins couldn’t believe the terrible offensive stats from Week 1');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bengals-WR-Tee-Higgins.jpg?w=1024"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bengals’ Tee Higgins couldn’t believe the terrible offensive stats from Week 1</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T12:20:19-07:00">September 12th, 12:20pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T12:20:19-07:00">September 12th, 12:20pm</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/jordan.llanes">Jordan Llanes</a>Jordan Llanes is a sports writer and reporter based in Florida. In addition to ClutchPoints, he writes for a few other publications covering the NFL, college sports and Tottenham Hotspur. When he's not writing, Jordan enjoys spending time with his fiancée, cats, family and friends, as well as catching the latest TV shows and movies, and traveling.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cincinnati Bengals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Although the Cincinnati <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/worried-about-bengals-week-1-escape-you-have-every-right-to-be">Bengals defeated the Cleveland Browns</a> 17-16 in their season opener last Sunday, the performance was still a disappointing one. The Bengals’ offense is considered to be one of the NFL’s best. A 17-point showing against a division rival that finished last in the AFC North in 2024. According to Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, the offense was dumbstruck about their awful stats from Sunday’s win. Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor broke <a href="https://x.com/FOX19Jeremy/status/1966250757788938692" rel="noopener">the news to the unit,</a> according to team beat reporter Jeremy Rauch on X (formerly Twitter).</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I didn't believe it when Zac told us." </p><p>Tee Higgins talked with us about the shock of seven yards and raising the standard. </p><p>Has it ever happened to him? "Nah. Nah." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bengals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bengals</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FOX19</a> <a href="https://t.co/jehw5XDLvI">pic.twitter.com/jehw5XDLvI</a></p><p>— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19Jeremy/status/1966250757788938692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“‘I didn’t believe it when Zac told us,'” Higgins said to the press, including Rauch. “Tee Higgins talked with us about the shock of seven yards and raising the standard. Has it ever happened to him? ‘Nah. Nah.'”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/bengals-news-tee-higgins-bright-spot-cincy-worst-defense-nfl-history">Higgins only had three catches</a> for 33 yards, which led the team. Teammate Ja’Marr Chase, one of the NFL’s best receivers, was held to two catches for 26 yards. Running back Chase Brown? 21 carries for 43 yards, plus two catches for eight yards. However, quarterback Joe Burrow’s performance (14-of-23 for 113 yards and a touchdown) was particularly disappointing. If the Bengals hope to beat the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the offense will need to find its bearings. Can Taylor’s scheme against Jacksonville unlock an offensive awakening?</p><h2><b>Can the Bengals’ offense get back on track on Sunday versus the Jaguars?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bengals-HC-Zac-Taylor-and-QB-Joe-Burrow.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: © Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Jaguars were victorious in their season opener as well. The 26-10 win at home over the Carolina Panthers was an excellent way to begin the Liam Coen era. Sunday’s matchup appears to be another matchup between offensive gurus at head coach in Coen and Taylor. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/bengals-rumors-zac-taylors-challenge-joe-burrow-led-offense-to-help-much-maligned-defense">While Taylor has had success</a> with the Bengals over his tenure, the peak of his time in charge so far was the loss in Super LVI following the 2021 season.</p><p>It’s been four years since Taylor and his staff helped lead the Bengals to the big game. For the third time in their history, Cincinnati came up short. Now, Burrow, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/bengals-news-tee-higgins-honest-trade-request-new-contract">Higgins, and the rest</a> of the offense will look to get the Bengals back there, preferably this season. In a deep AFC field, can Taylor get an attack filled with some of the best players in the NFL back to their roots? If so, a 2-0 start could lead to even more at Paycor Stadium this year.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bengals’ Tee Higgins couldn’t believe the terrible offensive stats from Week 1

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/buffalo-bills/bills-news-x-factor-draws-tee-higgins-best-case-scenario');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bills X-factor draws Tee Higgins best-case scenario');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Bills-WR-Keon-Coleman-in-training-camp.jpg"><figcaption>© Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bills X-factor draws Tee Higgins best-case scenario</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-28T10:06:11-07:00">August 28th, 10:06am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-28T10:07:03-07:00">August 28th, 10:07am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Buffalo Bills</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Buffalo Bills enter the 2025 season still searching for answers on offense. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/bills-news-josh-allen-jumps-up-espn-nfl-rank">Josh Allen remains the centerpiece</a>, but the Bills need another weapon to elevate their passing game. ESPN <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46079293/2025-nfl-season-x-factors-all-32-teams-key-players#BUF" rel="noopener">highlights</a> wide receiver Keon Coleman as a potential Bills X-factor. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/buffalo-bills-underrated-sleepers-could-break-out-2025-nfl-season">Coleman sits at the center of those expectations</a>, with hopes he can become a Tee Higgins-type threat who changes how defenses play them.</p><p>The connection between the Bills and Keon Coleman could <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/bills-news-buffalo-fans-fired-up-espn-latest-super-bowl-model">unlock Buffalo’s long-awaited playoff breakthrough</a>. If he keeps developing, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/bills-news-keon-coleman-puts-himself-on-blast-that-st-trash">Coleman has the tools to transform the offense</a> and redefine its ceiling.</p><p>The question surrounding the Bills is simple: do they have a true WR1? Khalil Shakir thrives in the slot, but Coleman’s emergence on the outside is key. He lacks elite separation, but his strength lies in contested catches and winning physical battles. To maximize that skill, Allen must develop more trust in Coleman. He has to be willing to throw to him even when he’s tightly covered. The connection improved last season, but there’s still room for growth, and the tools are clearly evident.</p><p>For Buffalo, the hope is that Coleman evolves fully into that Tee Higgins-type player. Higgins has carved out a role as one of the NFL’s premier possession receivers. If Coleman can replicate even part of that production, the offense gains a new dimension. This is especially true over the middle of the field and in the red zone. His size and physicality could make him a reliable target when drives stall. He could also provide options when defenses tighten coverage late in games.</p><p>Joe Brady’s offensive system thrives when Allen has multiple dependable options. Coleman unlocking his full potential would ease pressure off Shakir and Dalton Kincaid while forcing defenses to respect the boundary. That balance could be the missing piece for a deep postseason run and the long-awaited breakthrough Buffalo fans have been craving.</p><p>If Keon Coleman takes the leap, the Bills’ ceiling rises significantly. A Tee Higgins-like presence outside could be exactly what finally pushes Buffalo past its recent playoff struggles.</p><p>Could the Bills potential X-factor, Keon Coleman, be the difference between another early exit and a deep playoff run?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bills X-factor draws Tee Higgins best-case scenario

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/bengals-news-tee-higgins-bright-spot-cincy-worst-defense-nfl-history');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tee Higgins finds bright spot facing Bengals’ ‘worst defense in NFL history’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Tee-Higgins-with-Cincinnati-Bengals-1.jpg"><figcaption>Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Tee Higgins finds bright spot facing Bengals’ ‘worst defense in NFL history’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-06T13:08:37-07:00">August 6th, 1:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-06T13:08:37-07:00">August 6th, 1:08pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cincinnati Bengals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Training camp is well underway for the Cincinnati Bengals, and a contract dispute is on everyone’s mind. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/bengals-rumors-trey-hendrickson-already-turned-down-2-contract-offers">Defensive end Trey Hendrickson has been holding out</a> as he awaits a new contract. That should seriously impact Cincinnati’s defense, which was not good last year with Hendrickson. But Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins pushes back at the idea that they could have the worst defense in NFL history <a href="https://youtu.be/AC1z81yHyd8?t=1208" rel="noopener">in an interview</a> with Kay Adams.</p><p>“They’ve been flying around. A lot of communication, which is good. They’re in the right spots at the right time. They’re making plays, and then you know [defensive coordinator] Al [Golden], his philosophy is just fly around, attack the ball, just get the ball back. Get it to number nine. I really like Al, I liked him at Notre Dame, he’s just one of those defense-minded gurus. He comes to us every so often and be like man, you did good, you did good today.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-rumors-why-league-execs-surprised-bengals-jamarr-chase-tee-higgins-deals">Higgins and fellow wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase were given massive contract</a> extensions in the offseason. But the Bengals have not taken care of Hendrickson yet, bringing more distractions to training camp. Even without the edge rusher, Higgins likes what he sees from new defensive coordinator Al Golden.</p><p>The Bengals let go of long-time DC Lou Anarumo and hired Golden from Notre Dame. After six seasons in Cincy, Anarumo landed with the Indianapolis Colts. While he had great success in Cincinnati, the defense finished 25th in points allowed per game last season. A new voice was needed, which they have in Golden.</p><p>Now, the defense just needs their superstar. Hendrickson led the league with 17.5 sacks last year, was a first-team All-Pro, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The Bengals can compete in the tough AFC North if Higgins is right about their defense.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Tee Higgins finds bright spot facing Bengals’ ‘worst defense in NFL history’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/bengals-news-tee-higgins-honest-trade-request-new-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bengals’ Tee Higgins gets brutally honest on trade request made before new contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Tee-Higgins-gets-brutally-honest-on-trade-request-made-before-new-contract.jpg"><figcaption>© Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bengals’ Tee Higgins gets brutally honest on trade request made before new contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-04T09:16:16-07:00">August 4th, 9:16am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-04T09:40:55-07:00">August 4th, 9:40am</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cincinnati Bengals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For the first time in several years, Tee Higgins did not have to worry over the summer about if, when, or where his next contract would be, thanks to a big extension he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals early this offseason.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/bengals-news-jamarr-chase-tee-higgins-agree-4-year-contract-extensions">Higgins and teammate Ja’Marr Chase signed a contract extension in March</a>. Higgins’ deal is worth $115 million over four years ($41 million guaranteed) after being franchised tagged by Cincinnati in back-to-back years. And almost a year before ultimately signing his new deal, Higgins asked out of Cincinnati.</p><p>The franchise tags and trade rumblings <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45867206/2025-nfl-training-camp-latest-updates-buzz-notes-news-fantasy-football" rel="noopener">created a “big headache”</a> for Higgins, he admits.</p><p>“You put in the trade request, but you really don’t want to go nowhere,” Higgins said, via ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler. “It’s like, ‘Are they really going to trade me?’ And if they trade me, then I have to shift my whole mindset. I’m not with this team no more, I’m with this new team. I wanted to be here, but if I was to get traded, I would have made that shift then. I didn’t want to make it too early, I would have been clocked out, and I didn’t want that.”</p><p>Higgins, despite the distractions, did play and play well; despite missing five games each of the last two seasons, his yards per reception were at a career-high in 2023 (15.6), and he set a new career-high mark in touchdowns last season (10). He surpassed 1,000 yards in 2021 and 2022, and has come within 100 yards of the milestone in two more seasons.</p><p>Thankfully, Higgins is now locked into a long-term deal, although the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/bengals-news-how-jamarr-chase-tee-higgins-extensions-actually-help-bengals-cap-situation">Bengals could get out of it if they want.</a> While Higgins is guaranteed over a third of the contract, Cincinnati could theoretically trade Higgins this season and incur just a $3.75 million dead cap this season and $11.25 million dead cap next season. If they choose to do so next year, the dead cap could drop to $3.75 million in 2026 and $7.5 million in 2027, and it would be just $7.5 million in 2027 if they released or traded him following the 2026 season.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/net-worth/tee-higgins-net-worth">Tee Higgins will make the most money</a> of his career (to this point) in 2025, with a $15 million restructuring bonus helping boost his salary to nearly $36 million. His cap hit, however, will be at its lowest throughout this contract; he will count as $24 million in Cincinnati’s books in 2025.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bengals’ Tee Higgins gets brutally honest on trade request made before new contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/nfl-news-tyreek-hill-plays-are-you-smarter-than-a-5th-grader-with-tee-higgins-stephon-gilmore');   ga('set', 'title', 'NFL news: Tyreek Hill plays Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader with Tee Higgins, Stephon Gilmore');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/full_9c5505.jpg"></figure><h1>NFL news: Tyreek Hill plays Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader with Tee Higgins, Stephon Gilmore</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-10T18:16:56-07:00">July 10th, 6:16pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-10T18:16:56-07:00">July 10th, 6:16pm</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After offseason surgery, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/miami-dolphins/dolphins-news-tyreek-hill-major-first-offseason-surgery">Tyreek Hill recently reached a recovery milestone</a>. But he still may not be over the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/miami-dolphins/dolphins-tyreek-hill-reacts-to-blockbuster-jalen-ramsey-trade">Miami Dolphins trading Jalen Ramsey</a>. However, he seemed to have fun recently when he played “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader” with Tee Higgins and Stephon Gilmore.</p><p>Hill <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@overtimeszn/video/7525167814634753311" rel="noopener">asked some questions</a>, according to a post on TikTok.</p><p>Hill asked Higgins, “What is the biggest bone in your body?”</p><p>Higgins responded with “A femur,” which was correct.</p><h2><b>NFL receiver Tyreek Hill having offseason fun</b></h2><p>However, his NFL head coach, Mike McDaniel said there’s room for growth for the veteran receiver. McDaniel even said Hill would <a href="https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/dolphins/2025/03/31/miami-dolphins-mike-mcdaniel-im-ok-with-tyreek-hill-as-team-captain/82737222007/" rel="noopener">make a good captain</a>, according to palmbeachpost.com.</p><p>“I think in that scenario, I would be pumped if he was voted captain,” McDaniel said. “Because I think that Tyreek, being accountable for who he is as a competitor and what he’s learned from in his journey, I think that means that his teammates have seen him completely. Embraced the whole process of, ‘Hey, I’m a human being. This is wrong. (Or) this is right. This is how we want to do things.’ So to me, this would be a healthy evolution.”</p><p>Also, McDaniel said the Dolphins don’t want to take any NFL chances with Hill as he recovers from wrist surgery.</p><p>“We won’t rush it so there won’t be any setbacks,” McDaniel said. “But we’ll gradually work him into catching the football and going through that process so that at the end of the offseason program, we should be able to get that work that we were unable to this season before. The key thing is that he can run now.”</p><p>Still, trade rumors persist with Hill. The fact that he could be an NFL Super Bowl-run difference-maker for the right team might keep those fires burning throughout the summer. But <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-pre-training-camp-overreactions-tyreek-hill-trey-hendrickson-traded-micah-parsons-misses-start-of-year/" rel="noopener">he will stay</a> in Miami, according to cbssports.com.</p><p>“Hill voiced his displeasure last season in Miami, and has three years remaining on his four-year, $120 million contract,” Jeff Kerr wrote. “The locker room culture had to affect him, along with the constant inconsistencies of the offense when Tua Tagovailoa was injured. When Tagovailoa plays, Hill is one of the most productive receivers in football. But the 31-year-old Hill can be productive for any team.</p><p>“Perhaps Hill forces a trade out of Miami at some point, but it won’t be in training camp. The Dolphins are still playoff contenders when their offensive stars are healthy, and this is a make it-or-break it year for Mike McDaniel. They’ll stay the course at the start of the year.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025 SEASON STATS
RECEPTIONS	RECEIVING YDS	TOUCHDOWNS	POSITION RANK
0	33	0	-

2025 SEASON STATS
RECEPTIONS	RECEIVING YDS	TOUCHDOWNS	POSITION RANK
0	33	0	-

Tee
Higgins

2022 Projected vs Actual Pts

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NFL news: Tyreek Hill plays Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader with Tee Higgins, Stephon Gilmore