CINCINNATI — Zac Taylor has always had the backs of his players.
It’s no different in the case of Tee Higgins. The head coach on Monday – in a statement through the team – praised the star wide receiver for taking the high road and letting the business end of football take care of itself after Higgins signed his one-year, $21.8 million franchise tag over the weekend.
“I’m excited to move forward with Tee,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “He’s done a great job handling his situation, and we are happy to get him back in the fold so we can start working toward a great 2024 season. The locker room will be excited to have him back around.”
Joe Burrow expressed similar support last week in his final press conference of the spring, saying that he’s been in touch with Higgins and has seen him in person, adding that he’s kept himself in “great shape” while absent from voluntary offseason practices and OTAs.
As we pointed out over the weekend, there are several significant implications for Higgins signing now, all of them positive for the Bengals.
Selected 32 picks after Burrow as a second-round pick of the Bengals in 2020, Higgins has played in 58 career regular-season games with 53 starts.
He has caught 257 passes for 3684 yards and 24 TDs, including back-to-back 1000-yard seasons in 2021 and ’22. His receptions total ranks as the fourth-most by a Bengals player within their first four career seasons, while his receiving yardage ranks sixth and his receiving TDs are tied for sixth.
Higgins also has played in seven postseason contests (six starts) for Cincinnati, helping the team to advance to Super Bowl LVI following the 2021 season and to the AFC Championship Game following the ‘22 campaign. He ranks second in Bengals postseason history both in receptions (31) and receiving yards (457).
Higgins was designated Cincinnati’s franchise player on Feb. 26 before signing the one-year tender for the 2024 season on Saturday.
The Bengals under Marvin Lewis were pioneers of sorts, offering a view of what went on inside their locker room and the walls of Paul Brown Stadium. They were featured on the original training camp version of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” in 2009 and 2013.
Now, for the first time, television’s most acclaimed football documentary will chronicle an entire NFL division with “Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North,” debuting Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. on HBO and available to stream on Max. New episodes will premiere on subsequent Tuesdays through the end of the NFL regular season and continue into the NFL playoffs in January 2025.
“Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North” will document the battle for the AFC North crown during the final six weeks of the NFL season, as well as a playoff run for the division-winner and any AFC North Wild Card teams.
Zac Taylor has always insisted the AFC North is the best and toughest division in the NFL. It appears those with HBO and NFL Films certainly feels there’s merit to that argument.
“We don’t think — we know — this is the best division in football,” said Taylor. “I understand why it’s an attractive pick for Hard Knocks and it’s an honor to be part of a division that people think so highly of. We have an exciting team with a lot of really talented players and good team guys. They are players that the league is excited about, so this exposure is a positive.”
“Last season, the AFC North became the first division (since 1935) to have all four teams finish with a winning record, making it the perfect place to launch this new approach to Hard Knocks,” said Keith Cossrow, NFL Films vice president and head of content. “We thank the Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers for the opportunity to showcase some of the greatest rivalries in football and present the intensity of a playoff chase from all four corners of this incredibly competitive division.”
The Bengals announced Monday that they will open camp on Wednesday, July 24 with the first of five practices, open exclusively to season ticket and waitlist members. The Bengals are scheduled to hold 10 public practices during training camp. The first public practice takes place on Monday, July 29.
Training camp practices will take place at the Kettering Health Practice Fields located just west of Paycor Stadium. The entrance is located on the corner of Central Avenue and West Pete Rose Way. Fans are encouraged to park in Lot 1, Lot A or Lot B for practices at established prices.
The Kettering Health Practice Fields have bleacher seating for 1,250 fans next to the fields, plus additional standing room along the sidelines. Admission is free and no ticket is required. Fans are encouraged to arrive early since capacity is limited and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Concessions and Bengals merchandise will be available to purchase using credit cards and debit cards.
The NFL Clear Bag Policy will be in effect for all practices. Visit bengals.com/bagpolicy for more information about the sizes and types of bags that will be permitted.
Bengals players will sign autographs for fans along the sidelines following practices at the Kettering Health Practice Fields. Different position groups will be available each day after practice.
Season Ticket Members and Waitlist Members will have access to five exclusive practices, including Back Together Weekend on Sunday, July 28 and a joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Members will receive more information via email about how to claim free tickets to the members-exclusive practices. Fans can visit bengals.com/tickets to learn more about the Season Ticket Member Waitlist.
The Bengals will hold a special evening practice at the Kettering Health Practice Fields on Sunday, July 28 to celebrate Back Together Weekend. This practice is exclusive to Season Ticket Members and Waitlist Members who claim free tickets.
The Bengals will not hold a public practice inside Paycor Stadium this year due to the stadium’s concert schedule.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 (Season Ticket & Waitlist Members Only; Ticket Required)
–Gates open at 1:15 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-3:55 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 25 (Club Members Only; Ticket Required)
–Gates open at 1:15 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
FRIDAY, JULY 26 (Season Ticket & Waitlist Members Only; Ticket Required)
–Gates open at 1:15 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
SUNDAY, JULY 28 (Season Ticket & Waitlist Members Only; Ticket Required)
–Gates open at 5 p.m.
–Practice from 6-8 p.m.
MONDAY, JULY 29
–Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
TUESDAY, JULY 30
–Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 1
–Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
FRIDAY, AUG. 2
–Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUG. 4
–Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
MONDAY, AUG. 5
–Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 7
–Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 8
–Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
MONDAY, AUG. 12
–Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
TUESDAY, AUG. 13
–Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:10 p.m.
TUESDAY, AUG. 20 (Season Ticket & Waitlist Members Only; Ticket Required)
–Gates open at 1:15 p.m.
–Practice from 2:15-4:30 p.m.
