Report: Bengals’ Higgins won’t sign franchise tag before OTAs

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins hasn’t signed the franchise tag and isn’t expected to ahead of the team’s OTAs next week, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Higgins would earn $21.8 million under the one-year tender. The two sides haven’t discussed an extension in over a year, per ESPN’s Ben Baby. He’ll be ineligible to participate in any of the club’s team activities until he signs the tag or agrees to a new deal.

Higgins is the only player this offseason to be tagged and not receive a multiyear extension ahead of the July 15 deadline. Nov. 15 is the final day that franchise-tagged players would be able to sign the deal and be eligible to play this season.

Despite requesting a trade in March, Higgins later said in April that he expects to play for Cincinnati next campaign.

The former second-round receiver has proven to be one of the more productive pieces of the Bengals’ offense. Higgins has tallied 900 or more yards in his first three seasons. A combination of rib and hamstring injuries limited him to appearing in 12 games in 2023, which resulted in career lows with 42 catches, 656 yards, and five scores.

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who also requested a trade this offseason, has said he’s planning to play for the team after attending the Bengals’ voluntary workout sessions.

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