Bengals WR Tee Higgins responds to illogical claims about hamstring injury

Fans who claim Tee Higgins is faking a hamstring injury have puzzled the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver.

"I just don't understand why fans think I'm faking an injury, when for me to get a contract extension, the deadline is over," Higgins told ESPN's Ben Baby on Thursday. "I just don't understand why fans think I'm faking an injury. It doesn't make sense to me."

Over the offseason, Higgins signed the franchise tender (a one-year, $21.816M deal). As Baby notes, the Bengals cannot give him a multi-year contract extension at this point because the deadline for franchise-tagged players passed on July 15.

Sitting on the sidelines doesn't seem to benefit Higgins, either. If he produces spectacular numbers this season, that could help him earn a massive deal.

Per Baby, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Higgins injured his hamstring on Sept. 5. Initially, Higgins indicated he felt fine but then realized it was a more serious injury.

"I prepare myself to go out there and dominate in Week 1," Higgins said. "Unfortunately, four days before the game [against the Patriots], I had a hamstring tweak that I didn't think was as bad, so I made the comments I did after [practice]. I didn't think it was bad until, obviously, I got it checked on the next day. It was worse than I thought."

Since being drafted No. 33 overall in 2020, the Clemson product has battled multiple hamstring injuries. Per Jay Morrison of Pro Football Network, if Higgins doesn't play in Sunday's road game against the Kansas City Chiefs, it will mark the seventh time in his career he has missed or exited a game with a hamstring issue.

Per Paul Dehner Jr . of The Athletic, Higgins didn't practice Thursday, raising doubts about whether he'll be able to play in Week 2.

Higgins' murky status compounds the Bengals' problems. During a 16-10 loss to New England in Week 1, the team recorded just 224 total yards.