Tee Higgins and Chase Brown are two of Burrow’s most targeted weapons on the field, and both the receiver and the running back know that if they stay focused on their goals, they can be a force to be reckoned with—starting in the AFC North.

“I definitely think it will be more on the hyper-focused side than, you know, pissed off,” Higgins told the Cincy Jungle’s Orange and Black Insider Bengals podcast. “Obviously, we’re pretty upset we haven’t made the playoffs in a long time, but I think it’s more hyper-focused because most of the guys on the offensive side of the ball are coming back.”

He also added: “So, obviously we need to lock back in and keep doing what we’ve been doing the past three years, and just putting it together as a whole, as a team. Just like how if you’ve got special teams, offense and defense working together — you need all of that. … As long as we do that, I feel like we’ll be OK and make that run late in the season.”

Brown in sync with Higgins

When it come to offensive firepower in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals can’t be overlooked. If healthy, Joe Burrow has three top-tier players to lean on: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown. It’s the latter who recently warned opponents about what could be in store for the upcoming season.

“We’ll be motivated, man. We’ve had two years where our playoff hopes haven’t been in our control, so that’s definitely a focus going into this coming season is being in control, starting fast and winning the games that matter — which is every single game,” Brown said in the joint interview with Higgins.

“The ’24 season and the ’25 season, you look at some of those scores and kind of be like, hey, this could easily have gone our way. That’s what we know we’re capable of, is winning those tight games and playing deep into the playoffs and making a Super Bowl run.”

Will Joe Burrow be available next season?

After undergoing surgery for a Grade 3 turf toe injury suffered in Week 2 of the 2025 season, Joe Burrow successfully returned to the field late last year, finishing the final stretch of games as the starter.

Having completed his rehab and played through the end of the season, Burrow is expected to be fully healthy and at Zac Taylor’s disposal for Week 1 of the 2026 campaign.

Despite the Bengals missing the playoffs for a third consecutive year, the quarterback has expressed his commitment to the franchise, focusing the 2026 offseason on strengthening the roster to ensure a deep postseason run.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Tee Higgins is active and will play against the Dolphins. The wideout cleared concussion protocol, but the Bengals had Higgins meet with the renowned concussion expert, Dr. Micky Collins, to confirm clearance. The franchise wants its wide receiver healthy and at a 100%.

Higgins has been concussed twice already this season unfortunately. In the end, Higgins is a contested-catch receiver, so many of his targets are physically tough to handle. Many times, the aftermath is going down to the ground completely unprotected, and that is a dangerous thing.

Higgins might be a top 10 receiver in football

Tee Higgins plays as WR2 on the Bengals. The reason is he might have the best wideout in football as his teammate in Ja’Marr Chase. However, Higgins’ talent is other-worldly. He is arguably a top 10 wideout in the NFL.

Higgins could be WR1 in 90% of the franchises easily. In fact, Joe Burrow trusts him almost blindly. While Chase is the one getting more targets, it’s Higgins the one getting the best one-on-one opportunities. When it’s time to go high, a 50-50 ball turns into a 70-30 in favor of Higgins.

It’s been tough for Cincy’s big three to remain healthy

Burrow was injured for three months, then he came back and Ja’Marr Chase got suspended. Of course, Higgins has missed some games due to the concussions. It’s been tough for the Bengals to line up all three stars together this season.

This is a meaningless game for Cincinnati as it has no chance of going to the playoffs. In fact, the more games it loses, the better the draft pick it will get. However, it’s a tough game and tanking is just not part of the mentality of any player in the NFL.

If the holiday wasn’t enough to attract viewers, fans will have an extra reason to tune in as Burrow will make his long-awaited return to action. The Bengals activated Burrow from injured reserve on Wednesday before flying to Baltimore, paving the way for his first start in 75 days.

Higgins, on the other hand, won’t play tonight. The wide receiver suffered a concussion during Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots, and the Thanksgiving Night clash came too soon for him.

Burrow, Bengals missing other players apart from Higgins vs. Ravens

Needless to say, recovering Burrow is exactly what everyone in Cincinnati wanted for weeks, but the Bengals won’t be at full strength in Baltimore as Higgins is just one of many players missing tonight’s clash.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor also ruled out star defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) and running back Tahj Brooks (concussion) for the Ravens game.

Not an ideal situation for the Bengals, who have no margin for error as their 3-8 record sees them third in the AFC North behind the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, both at 6-5. At least they’ll have Burrow back, as tonight could represent the start of a late comeback in the 2025 NFL regular season.

How many games has Burrow missed and what was the Bengals’ record without him?

Burrow hasn’t played since Week 2, when he exited the second quarter of the Bengals’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars after tearing ligaments in his toe. That injury required surgery and forced him to miss nine games, with Cincinnati going 1-8 without its star QB.

While the Bengals’ playoff hopes look slim, the LSU star is returning just in time to try and keep those aspirations alive. The uphill battle for a postseason berth starts tonight, with a great opportunity to shake things up in the AFC North.

Tee Higgins has been a key piece in Zac Taylor’s offense, often serving as a reliable option for Burrow in crucial moments of the game. Unfortunately for him, he suffered a high-ankle sprain earlier this year, which forced him to miss the final stretch of the season.

Despite the setback, the talented wide receiver made it clear in a recent conversation with the media that if he stays healthy throughout the year, he’ll be a tough matchup for any opponent.

“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.”

As of now, the Bengals‘ offense stands as one of the most powerful in the AFC North, especially with both Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase still on the roster. Time will tell how things unfold in the coming weeks—and just how far this team can really go.

Pushing Burrow to the limit

Many view this stage of the preseason as a crucial time to push every player to reach their full potential. The Bengals are no exception—and they’re doing exactly that with their biggest star, Joe Burrow.

Fourth-year cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt approaches every practice with the utmost commitment—and he expects his star quarterback to do the same, pushing him to be at his absolute best by the time Week 1 kicks off.

“That’s why I threw the ball as high as I could over there towards him,” the CB stated to the press. “You saw the next play, we got him riled up. He took a deep shot on the other side of the field. That’s the type of quarterback that you want. You want shiesty to come out. Simple as that.”

The Bengals’ early challenges

• @ Cleveland Browns, September 7th
• vs Jacksonville Jaguars, September 14th
• @ Minnesota Vikings, September 21st
• @ Denver Broncos, September 29th
• vs Detroit Lions, October 5th

Burrow has gotten what he strongly demanded before the start of the offseason: keeping his key weapons for the upcoming season. The Bengals listened to his request, and both Higgins and Chase will remain on the roster.

Burrow has expressed his satisfaction with the Cincinnati organization’s decision. While he was certain that Chase would get paid, he was less sure about Higgins. However, he praised the team’s efforts to keep both players on the roster.

Burrow’s message on Chase and Higgins extensions

“We might be together until the end of somebody’s career or we might move on after that. But for the next four years, you know what you’re going to get from us and we’re going to be right here. We’re paying the right guys. Guys who work really hard for what they have,” Burrow said in the Bengals’ website about Chase and Higgins‘ extensions.

“Guys who aren’t going to get complacent or anything like that. Guys who really care about the product they put on the field, and care about the fans and the organization and the people in the locker room. We’ve got the right guys,” he declared.

Bengals grant another wish for Burrow

The Bengals have taken action to fulfill the wishes of their star, Burrow. In recent hours, they decided to extend the contract of tight end Mike Gesicki. This keeps the offense intact compared to last season. The only loose piece is defensive end Trey Hendrickson, whose future remains uncertain.

Last season, the Bengals had a rough start. However, the team managed to bounce back, but their late surge wasn’t enough, as they were eliminated in the final game of the campaign.

Following this disappointment, Joe Burrow urged the front office to strengthen the roster. Now, the team has reportedly answered his pleas and is preparing to make two major decisions regarding some of his most crucial teammates.

Report: Bengals preparing major moves for two of Joe Burrow’s key teammates

The NFL offseason is always filled with roster moves, as all 32 teams aim to improve for the upcoming season. The Bengals don’t want to fall behind, and they are ready to make significant changes.

Last year, Cincinnati fell just short of a playoff spot. The team also dealt with contract disputes involving key players, which may have contributed to their slow start to the season.

Now, those contract issues must be addressed again. The team is facing crucial negotiations with two key players, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, but both situations are reportedly close to being resolved.

According to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Bengals are finalizing massive contract extensions for both Higgins and Chase. Reports indicate that the two star wide receivers are working out the final details to remain in Cincinnati for the long term.

Earlier this year, the Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins for the second consecutive season. However, it appears this move was only made to prevent him from leaving in free agency while giving the front office more time to negotiate a lucrative extension.

Do the Bengals have enough money to pay both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins?

One of Cincinnati’s biggest challenges is managing the salary cap. Chase and Higgins are both considered top-tier wide receivers, and they are expected to demand contracts that reflect their elite status.

Fortunately for the Bengals, Joe Burrow has reportedly expressed willingness to restructure his own contract to free up cap space. The star quarterback understands the importance of keeping his top weapons intact as the team looks to contend for a Super Bowl this season.

The 2024 campaign was challenging for the Bengals. The AFC North club was seen as a potential contender, but they fell short of expectations and failed to even reach the Wild Card round.

Now, Cincinnati is set for a significant offseason, but they’re not the only team undergoing a major rebuild. As a result, they could lose a crucial player to another franchise looking to reshape its roster.

Rumors: Bengals could lose a key player to an AFC East team

The Bengals came close to making the playoffs this past season. Unfortunately, their fate depended on other results, and they were ultimately eliminated early.

The team faced several contract dilemmas, particularly on offense. While Ja’Marr Chase secured a lucrative extension, he isn’t the only wide receiver Joe Burrow needs.

Tee Higgins is set to hit free agency this offseason. While Burrow has urged the front office to keep him, another team may have already taken the lead by preparing a massive offer.

According to Jason La Canfora, the Patriots are ready to spend big this offseason, with Tee Higgins as a primary target. Reports suggest New England could offer him a deal worth around $30 million per season.

There’s no doubt Drake Maye needs a top-tier wideout, and Higgins could be the answer. However, the receiver reportedly wants to stay in Cincinnati and will likely wait for the Bengals’ offer before making a final decision.

There are a lot of trade talks going on right now. The NFL Scouting Combine taking place in Indianapolis usually works as the ideal scenario for those moves. Conversations about players that could change jerseys are aplenty. The main one is obviously Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, but that looks like a complicated story.

These types of transactions include stars that think they deserve to get a contract extension playing for teams that might disagree. Cincinnati would certainly like to keep Higgins catching passes from QB Joe Burrow, although they have other financial decisions to make. That context made most think that a trade for the wideout could be likely.

Is Tee Higgins getting traded by the Cincinnati Bengals?

The Combine is gathering almost every executive in the NFL in one place. A wide range of protagonists spoke to the media on Tuesday in the opening day in Indianapolis, and that was one of the topics for this team. Their stance of a potential trade is very clear now based on what the Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said about it.

“I’m not in the business of making other teams better. Trading Tee Higgins is not on my mind. That’s their problem. If they want a receiver, go find your own. The trade stuff is a little ridiculous”, Tobin explained according to Charlie Goldsmith of Cincinnati Enquirer. This statement may be modified if the right offer is made, although that sounds a bit more improbable after this message to the rest of the league.