CINCINNATI, Ohio - Toughness and Tee each fittingly start with the same letter.
Bengals third-year wide receiver Tee Higgins has already been through the ringer just three games into the 2022 season. From entering concussion protocol in Week 1 against Pittsburgh, to nearly going down in the first half against the Jets last Sunday, Higgins is somehow still standing tall.
His impact has been measured beyond his personal statistics. Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan says Higgins has been a source of “energy” for Cincinnati’s receiving corps.
“Anytime you can make a big play take a nice hit and pop back up, there is something about that energy that everybody feeds off. They get a chance to get excited about something,” Callahan told cleveland.com with a grin. “I’m trying to think of the right word for it, but it certainly lifts people when they see something like that.”
The former Oak Ridge (Tenn.) basketball star showed off his 6-foot-4 vertical frame on the first drive of last Sunday’s win with a leaping catch in the back of the end zone that was called just inches out of bounds.
That, however, may have just given his offense the aforementioned “energy” they needed to make up for their otherwise slower starts this season entering the weekend. Running back Samaje Perine gave the Bengals their first lead of the season on that drive before Tyler Boyd scored a 56-yard touchdown later in the first half in pinball-like fashion as he was hit on the catch.
While Callahan is still finding the right word for Higgins, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, meanwhile, told reporters on Tuesday that throwing to Higgins makes him “lucky.”
“Everyone knows what we’re getting out of Tee. He’s going to make plays on the field. He’s going to get run after the catch. He’s going to get open,” Burrow said.
Higgins has 13 receptions for 191 yards and a touchdown so far this season. And Callahan says that small sample size is still a good measuring stick of Higgins’ growth compared to last season.
“His attention to detail is impressive. He got into it at the game (on Sunday) down on the sideline and was coming over to Joe (Burrow) and telling him, ‘Hey, if I get a 1-on-1 with Sauce (Gardner), I’ll beat him. Just throw it.’ That’s why he threw it to him on that go-ball,” Callahan said.
“He felt confident. He’s just playing with a ton of confidence right now.”
Higgins practiced with the Bengals in the team’s first and only practice this week on Tuesday ahead of Thursday night’s matchup at Paycor Stadium against the Miami Dolphins. Cincinnati listed him as limited Monday before upgrading him to full participation.
Miami’s defensive backfield, led by Xavien Howard, will pose a challenge for the Bengals’ receivers. Callahan, though, says he’s looking forward to seeing what Higgins can show off under the bright lights in prime time and beyond.
“It’s been fun to watch Tee’s growth. He’s been locked in and probably playing as good football as anyone can be right now.”
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