Sam Greene/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK

Division rival of Browns receives welcomed news that Cleveland won’t want to hear

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated 4/15/24

The Battle of Ohio won’t lack star power in the 2024 season between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.

Early in the offseason, it appeared that the Bengals could have taken a major hit to their offense but that now appears very unlikely.

Tee Higgins sounds a lot like a guy who is motivated to play for the Bengals on the franchise tag and one that has accepted the fact that he isn’t getting traded.

Higgins was asked over the weekend at his youth football camp if he anticipated being in Cincinnati for the 2024 season.

"I do anticipate it," Higgins answered. "I've grown a love for Cincy that I didn't think I would, but [I'm] looking forward to it."

New @WLWT: Tee Higgins says he does anticipate playing for the Bengals in 2024. pic.twitter.com/kMh0Lar8Ws
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) April 14, 2024

The star wideout could have said we’d have to wait to see what happens or anything like that, instead, he seems like a guy that is going to make the best of it. Higgins will be paid north of $20 million to do so on the franchise tag.

In 16 games last season, Higgins recorded 908 receiving yards and six touchdowns, with QB Joe Burrow missing much of the season. In each of the previous two seasons, Higgins was north of 1,000 yards with Ja’Marr Chase being the main target. When Higgins is at his best, the Bengals offense is at another level and tough to stop in the passing game.

It is bad news for the Browns and the rest of the division that Higgins has stayed in Cincinnati and they’ll have to put up with him for at least one more season.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: