Higgins (ankle) announced Monday via his personal social media accounts that the Bengals have informed him he will receive the franchise tag.

EDGE Analysis

Cincinnati will place the franchise tag on Higgins for a second consecutive offseason, positioning him to play out the 2025 campaign on a one-year, $26.17 million contract unless both sides can reach agreement on a long-term extension by July 15. The move prevents Higgins from hitting free agency at the start of the new league year next week, as he would have been arguably the top available player on the open market. The Bengals have expressed a commitment in retaining the 26-year-old wideout via a long-term deal, motivated no doubt in part by Joe Burrow's public statements that he desires Higgins, Ja'Marr Chaseand pass rusher Trey Hendrickson kept together as a headline trio. Higgins posted a 73-911-10 receiving line despite playing just 12 regular-season games in 2024.

The Bengals are expected to apply the franchise tag to Higgins (ankle), the window for which will officially open Tuesday and last until March 4, James Rapien of SI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Higgins played on the franchise tag in 2024, when he managed a 73-911-10 line on 109 targets across 12 regular-season games, posting double-digit touchdowns for the first time in his career. Quarterback Joe Burrow already has made his desire for Higgins to be retained clear, per Michael Baca of NFL.com, and the franchise tag could act as a first step for both sides to negotiate a long-term deal. Were he to hit the free-agent market, Higgins would be the top available option at the wide receiver position, if not across the board. Higgins would carry a one-year salary of $26.17 million were he to play out 2025 on the franchise tag.

Higgins disclosed after exiting in the second half of Saturday's 19-17 win over the Steelers that he is tending to a left high-ankle sprain, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Higgins has taken questionable tags into the Bengals' past two games with both ankle and knee injury, though it's the former issue that has been the greater concern. Despite managing the high-ankle sprain, Higgins produced a monstrous 11-131-3 line on 12 targets in a Week 17 overtime win over Denver, but he was limited to four catches for 53 yards on five targets while playing 50 of 74 offensive snaps Saturday before seemingly aggravating the injury late in the contest and not returning. Higgins said after Saturday's game that he plans to play through the ankle injury if Cincinnati clinches a spot on the postseason, with the Bengals needing a Broncos loss to the Chiefs plus a Dolphins loss or tie against the Jets on Sunday to secure a wild-card berth.

Higgins is questionable to return to Saturday night's game against the Steelers due to an ankle injury.

EDGE Analysis

Higgins came into Week 18 with an ankle injury but was deemed active after being listed as questionable to play. Prior to leaving at the end of the third quarter, Higgins caught four of five targets for 53 scoreless yards. If Higgins is unable to return, the offense should funnel even more through Ja'Marr Chase, while Andrei Iosivas, Isaiah Williams and Kendric Pryor round out the remainder of Cincinnati's wide receiver depth chart.

Higgins (ankle/knee) is listed as active Saturday at Pittsburgh.

EDGE Analysis

Higgins tended to ankle and knee injuries for a second straight week, and a questionable designation for Week 18 action followed three consecutive limited listings on Bengals practice reports. He again will play through those health concerns, and if his performance (11-131-3 on 12 targets) last Saturday against the Broncos is any indication, he's in tune with QB Joe Burrow at the moment, even if Higgins is operating at less than 100 percent. Higgins will be taking on a Steelers defense this Saturday that has given up the 11th-most YPT (8.22) to opposing wide receivers this season.

Higgins (ankle/knee) is expected to be available for Saturday's game at Pittsburgh, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

For a second week in a row, Higgins is listed as questionable after being listed as limited on all three of the Bengals' practice reports due to ankle and knee injuries. The health concerns didn't stop him from running roughshod over the Broncos this past Saturday to the tune of 11 catches (on 12 targets) for 131 yards and three touchdowns. Assuming he gets the all-clear to play this Saturday when the Bengals post their list of inactives about 90 minutes before an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, he'll again join forces with QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja'Marr Chase to form what has been one of the most productive passing attacks down the stretch this season.

Higgins (ankle/knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Steelers.

EDGE Analysis

The Bengals listed Higgins as questionable ahead of their Week 17 matchup with the Broncos due to the same pair of injuries, but the wideout suited up and turned in perhaps the finest performance of his career. He finished with 11 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns on 12 targets, including the game-winning three-yard scoring grab in overtime. Higgins will once again carry a designation into the weekend after he was a limited participant in practices Tuesday through Thursday, but it would be a major surprise if he wasn't able to play Saturday, especially with the Bengals fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Higgins (ankle/knee) was limited at practice Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Higgins was deemed a limited participant in Tuesday's walk-through, so he'll likely need to practice fully Thursday in order to avoid an injury designation ahead of Saturday night's game against the Steelers. That said, with playoff slotting on the line, we fully expect Higgins (who put up an 11/131/3 receiving line in Week 17 versus Denver) to be available this weekend.

Higgins (ankle/knee) was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Jay Morrison of SI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cincinnati listed Higgins as a limited participant in all three of its Week 17 practices due to the same pair of injuries before deeming him questionable for this past Saturday's game against the Bengals. He proceeded to suit up and delivered a career-best performance, playing 62 of 90 snaps on offense while finishing with 11 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns on 12 targets in the Bengals' 30-24 overtime win. Assuming he escaped from that game with no setbacks, Higgins' limitations to begin Week 18 prep were likely just maintenance-related. He's expected to be cleared to play against the Steelers this Saturday as the Bengals look to chase down a playoff berth with a win plus Broncos and Dolphins losses Sunday.

Higgins recorded 11 receptions on 12 targets for 131 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday's 30-24 overtime win against the Broncos. He also lost a fumble.

EDGE Analysis

Higgins played the hero in Saturday's win, leading the team in receptions and yards while also being on the receiving end of all three of Joe Burrow's passing scores. The lone negative to his performance came late in the fourth quarter, when he fumbled to end a potential game-winning drive for the Bengals abruptly. However, Higgins quickly erased that error with a 31-yard catch to set up his own walk-off touchdown in overtime. The performance was both his second 100-yard and multi-touchdown showing of the campaign.