Tee Higgins, one of the Bengals' biggest big-game wide receivers in franchise history, came up big again when he reported to Paycor Stadium for training camp.
"You know me. I like to work," Higgins said Tuesday. "I want to keep putting smiles on people's faces. Especially our fans. I grew a love for the city I didn't think was going to happen. Love the fans. They embrace me. I hope to put on a show for them this year."
No doubt he will after an offseason he re-fueled his body for his Who Dey flavored game. Blending his idol A.J. Green's high-point basketball skills with mentor T.J. Houshmandzadeh's physicality, the 6-4, 219-pound Higgins' 3,684 career yards are fifth best among players who started their NFL careers since 2020.
His 457 playoff yards are ninth-best since 2020. He's got 100 yards in a Super Bowl, averages 93 yards in two AFC title games, and has pulled down ten of his 24 touchdowns in December.
That's why the man who prides himself as a "grinder," couldn't resist the pull of another training camp. Higgins, 25, wasn't here this spring and didn't have to be here for another month as a franchise free agent.
"I had time to reflect and think. I had long talks with my agent. A lot of back and forth about what I wanted to do," Higgins said. "I just made the decision to sign the tag. At the end of the day, I just wanted to come out here and try to win a Super Bowl. I'm happy with the decision I made. I'm here for the Bengals for the 2024 season. I'm ready to get it done and get with my guys."
He committed to showing up on time when he signed the one-year tender for roughly $22 million last month.
"I grew up with nothing. This is still life changing money," Higgins said. "I look at where I'm from and what I grew up with, moving from house to house. This can change my life forever. That's how I look at it."
Higgins and his quarterback Joe Burrow have been teammates for all but one day of their NFL careers, the first round of the 2020 draft, but Higgins is adamant the timing still must be perfected.
"This could be the last ride for me and the guys. You never know," Higgins said. "Instead of holding out and waiting and just watching from afar, I'd rather be in the mix with the guys and grind it out with them. That's how I've always been.
"You have to have timing down with your quarterback. I'm not saying me and Joe don't have timing together. We're going on five years together. You still want to get that timing down. We've been away from each other for months now, so it's good to get back in that rhythm so we can be ready for game one."
Higgins is a fan favorite. They growl "T—ee---eee" after every catch. But he admits he's an introvert. He wants to keep his personal goals personal.
He makes no bones, however, about how he hopes a new offseason regimen is going to help him play every game. A hamstring injury in the 2020 finale cost him a 1,000-yard rookie season. He caught 1,091 the next season despite losing two games to a shoulder injury. Last year he missed five games.
"I really focused on my body. I haven't been through a season injury-free," said Higgins, who thinks he played a little heavy last year. "I'm looking forward to that this year. I changed a lot of things about how I prepare my body, what I put inside my body, my recovery work. I'm actually treating my body like a pro. That's what it takes … Cleaning up my diet … You have to keep fueling your body the right way to perform at your best."
For Higgins that can mean only one thing now that training camp is here.
"I want to be grinding with my guys," he said.
