Bengals' Zac Taylor takes a strong stance on Tee Higgins
As far as contract years go, Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins is having a disastrous one. Having only played four full games due to a rib injury, the fourth-year receiver has just 14 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Over half of that production came from one game, and he's also been targeted 36 […]
As far as contract years go, Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins is having a disastrous one.
Having only played four full games due to a rib injury, the fourth-year receiver has just 14 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Over half of that production came from one game, and he's also been targeted 36 times.
It's been far from the start he wanted as his NFL future will be decided in a matter of months, but support for one of the Bengals' best players has not wavered inside the building.
Head coach Zac Taylor took it upon himself to back Higgins' lack of production while playing through the pain of a rib fracture, citing his presence alone as an impact in the offense.
Taylor even offered potentially good news regarding Higgins' injury.
"I think it's unfair to look at his body work the last couple weeks," Taylor said of Higgins' lack of production. "He's been way less than full speed and [I] appreciate him going out there and, even though he's not full speed, it still takes attention from the defense away and and allows other guys to be productive as well.
"Just having him out there these last couple weeks, the last game in particular, was very helpful and he looks looks like he's feeling better. He'd have to answer on exactly how he feels, but it seems like things are really in a good place there."
Higgins was not featured on the Bengals' first injury report of the week, indicating that he did not receive any treatment or was limited in any capacity during practice. A tremendous sign that he's doing as well as his coach believes.
A fully capable Higgins is what the Bengals desperately need right now. Their identity is having two wideouts able to win one-on-one matchups whenever presented, and it's been all Ja'Marr Chase this season without Higgins playing up to his standard. That must change if the Bengals want to make a playoff push.
The first step is to get healthy, and it appears Higgins has done just that.
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