The Bengals have been dealing with contract situations for their top two receivers throughout 2024.
Tee Higgins was franchise tagged and has played under it this season, with many assuming Higgins will be on his way to a new club in 2025. Then, Ja’Marr Chase did not receive a contract extension before the season, sitting out training camp practices.
Quarterback Joe Burrow has been consistent in saying that Higgins should be a part of Cincinnati’s plans going forward. Higgins has caught a touchdown in three consecutive games and proved critical in last Saturday’s overtime victory over the Broncos when he caught 11 passes for 131 yards and three TDs.
Still, the Week 18 game against the Steelers could be the last time Burrow, Chase, and Higgins all play together — a fact that hasn’t escaped the Bengals’ quarterback.
“It’s obviously a possibility,” Burrow said Tuesday, via Paul Dehner Jr. of TheAthletic.com, “not one that I’m excited about, but that’s not in the plans, I would say.”
Burrow has made it clear that he’s expecting Higgins to be back in 2025 in the past, but underscored that again on Tuesday when asked how he views former Bengals thriving on other teams.
“Whenever a great player leaves, you wish you could have found a way to keep them,” Burrow said. “You don’t want to make a living out of letting great players leave the building. I think that’s why you got to do everything you can to get those deals done early.”
Higgins has missed time due to injury this season, but has still been having one of his most productive years. In 11 games, he’s caught 69 passes for 858 yards with 10 touchdowns.
Chase, who is also expected to seek a new contract this offseason, leads the league with 117 catches, 1,612 yards, and 16 touchdowns.
Entering Week 18, Burrow leads the league with 4,641 yards passing and 42 touchdowns. He’s completed 69.8 percent of his throws this year.
