Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins’ heel is good to go and he’s ready to hear 65,000 fans at Paycor Stadium roar his signature “TEE” chant once again.
“It's a great feeling,” Higgins said. “Because once you get that first catch, and you hear your name, just a whole bunch of people screaming your name is like, 'Oh yeah, let's get it going.'”
Higgins recently suffered a heel contusion and missed a week of practice. He fully participated in practice on Wednesday and Thursday as the team began preparing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bengals host the Bucs for their season opener at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Expectations are high for the Bengals heading into the season. Cincinnati has missed the playoffs in each of the last three
years, and the players in the locker room are ready to get back to playing in the postseason.
For the Bengals to do so, they’ll need Higgins at his best. After signing a four-year extension with the club in March 2025, Higgins was looking forward to proving why he’s worthy of the contract his team gave him.
Higgins’ 2025 campaign was one full of highs and lows. From Joe Burrow getting hurt, to suffering multiple concussions, Higgins’ sixth season in the NFL featured plenty of good, while he also suffered some hardship.
He caught 59 passes for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns, which led to his first Pro Bowl nod.
After experiencing a series of head injuries last season, Higgins learned just how serious they can be and it gave him new perspective.
The additions the Bengals made on defense this offseason helped rejuvenate the entire team, including Higgins.
“I'm ready … I want it. I want that taste again,” Higgins said. “I'm right with the fans.”
First and foremost, Higgins wants to help the Bengals win a Super Bowl. After that, he wants to reach 1,000 receiving yards this year and play in every game.
“My confidence level has been always all-time high. You know, you know, I'm here to help this team win, and you know that's my main goal is to help this team win.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Tee Higgins says he’s 100 percent healthy for Bengals’ season opener
