The Cincinnati Bengals were the team to beat going into their regular season opener against the Patriots. However, they ended up losing the game while showcasing the gaps they possess on their roster. Even their upcoming week 2 clash against the Chiefs doesn’t bode good news for the Bengals, as WR Tee Higgins is possibly out with a hamstring injury.

Providing us with an update on Higgins’s injury, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said he doubts that he can play a part in their face-off against the back-to-back Super Bowl Champions. Looking back at his non-participation in last week’s Friday workout, this news might not be surprising for many.

Even NFL insider Adam Schefter spoke about how he would ‘be surprised’ if Higgins did manage to play against the reigning champions this Monday, “Hamstring injury. He has a hamstring injury. We’ll see how the week plays out but I’ll be surprised if he plays on this week against the Chiefs.”

As things stand, Schefter might be proven right, as it’s highly unlikely that Higgins will play any snap at Arrowhead Stadium. Well, looking at his recent injury record, pushing the Bengals WR before he becomes full fit might be a step in the wrong direction. The last thing the Bengals would want is Higgins missing more games as the season progresses.

Hamstring injuries could be tricky for any player to deal with while hoping they can come back sooner. With Tee Higgins absent, the Bengals will yet have to rely upon WR Ja’Marr Chase, who finished with six catches for 62 yards against New England. But speaking about the fifth-year NFL star injury, some people have got weird controversies going on about it.

Tee Higgins opens up on fake injury allegations

Entering his fifth season in the NFL, Tee Higgins has found himself tangled with fake injury narratives after he missed the home clash against the Patriots. Despite not being part of training camps or practice since a hamstring injury suffered on Sept 5, Higgins expressed his thoughts about making a return to the field. “I just don’t understand why fans think I’m faking an injury, when for me to get an extension for a contract, the deadline is over. It doesn’t make sense to me,” said Higgins.

Well, speaking about the deadline, it was back on July 15 when the teams still had time to reach a long-term deal who were on a franchise tag. Although Higgins didn’t get his deal this year, he has expressed interest in getting one for the past two seasons. He even requested a trade earlier this year but ended up adding a franchise tag, thereby showing progression towards a better deal. Opening up about his contract status, the Bengals WR stated, “I’m here, man. No ifs and or buts about it. I’m here and ready to work.”

Looking at Higgins’s dedication to get back on the gridiron, Bengals left guard Cordell Volsen threw praises towards the 25-year-old, “The way that he goes about his business and goes to work, it’s really special. And he’s really special player.” As Volsen pointed out, Higgins is indeed a special player, as the former Clemson standout recorded 656 receiving yards and five TDs last season. But it remains to be seen whether the wide receiver can make his return sooner and help his team get back on track in this year’s NFL.