Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins remains absent from the team as he has not signed his franchise tag and has until mid-July to negotiate a long-term deal with the Bengals. Despite this, Ja’Marr Chase has returned to the team after being away for the entire offseason while seeking a contract extension. Reports indicate that he reported to the team’s mandatory minicamp on Monday, avoiding over $100,000 in fines that he would have incurred if he had skipped the workouts.
Many players in similar situations have been willing to accept these fines as part of the negotiation process, but Chase chose to handle things differently. Earlier in the offseason, Chase had mentioned that he was waiting for Justin Jefferson to sign a new contract with the Vikings before pursuing his own extension. With Jefferson finalizing his deal recently, there is hope that a similar agreement can be reached between the Bengals and Chase before training camp begins.
Despite their differences in approach, both Higgins and Chase are crucial members of the Bengals offense and their absence during offseason preparations could have a significant impact on their performance come season. The team will need to find ways to fill their roster spots and ensure that they are prepared for the challenges ahead.
