According to NFL insider Adam Schefter , star Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has yet to sign his franchise tender and he is not expected to do so by next week. This means he will not be with the Bengals for organized team activities as he cannot be with the team until he signs. This is not out of the ordinary as the majority of players who will play on a franchise tag will follow the same steps.
The Cincinnati Bengals went through the same process with former safety Jessie Bates Former Bengals safety Jessie Bates went through extremely similar processes as his career with the Bengals came to an end. Bates, in a fashion similar to what Higgins will most likely do, played his final year with the Bengals on a franchise tag after not re-signing with the team. Bates also didn’t come back to the team before the season as he was ineligible.
Almost comical how play-for-play this entire situation continues to be an exact replica of what went down w/ Jessie Bates and #Bengals two years ago. Sure both sides will be happy with and expect a similar outcome. Tee might as well buy the Bates suite for preseason game 3 now.
https://t.co/gHu1tVjs5h — Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) May 21, 2024 Bates then played out the season on a franchise tag before leaving the Bengals to sign with the Atlanta Falcons.
Bates went on to have a career year with the Falcons in 2023 after becoming one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL. Like Higgins, Bates had a strong connection to the t.
