Star Wide Receivers Missing from Bengals' Voluntary Workouts
- Star wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were reportedly absent from the Cincinnati Bengals' voluntary OTAs.
- Tee Higgins posted a cryptic message on social media amid his contract holdout, adding to the speculations.
- The absence of these key players raises concerns among Bengals fans regarding their readiness for the upcoming season.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins posted a mysterious message on social media because he is not practicing with the team. Both Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, who are star wide receivers for the Bengals, are not at practice because they want new contracts. Ja'Marr Chase is now eligible for a contract extension, while Tee Higgins, who was franchise tagged, asked to be traded earlier this year. Ja'Marr Chase has been a Pro Bowler for three years in a row and had a great season last year with 100 catches, 1,216 yards, and seven touchdowns. Tee Higgins played fewer games due to injury last season but still had 42 catches, 656 yards, and five touchdowns. He had over 1,000 receiving yards in the previous two seasons. The Bengals' wide receiver group now includes Trenton Irwin, draft picks Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones from 2023, and Jermaine Burton from the 2024 third round. They lost Tyler Boyd to the Tennessee Titans in free agency. In other news, the Bengals traded running back Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans and signed Zack Moss to replace him. They also signed tight end Mike Gesicki from the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins on a one-year deal. Last season, the Bengals missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020, mainly because their star quarterback Joe Burrow got injured in November.