CINCINNATI — Both of Joe Burrow's wide receivers are locked in for the upcoming season.
Tee Higgins has signed his one-year tender with the Cincinnati Bengals, the team announced Monday afternoon.
Once the tender is signed, teams and players who have been issued a franchise tag have until mid-July to agree to a long-term extension. If that does not happen, the player will play the season on the one-year tag.
Signing the franchise tag means Higgins will be back just in time for training camp, which begins July 24.
"I’m excited to move forward with Tee," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said in a release. "He's done a great job handling his situation, and we are happy to get him back in the fold so we can start working toward a great 2024 season. The locker room will be excited to have him back around."
The signing comes just days after the Bengals finished their three-day mandatory minicamp.
Higgins was first placed under the franchise tag in late February. He then requested a trade out of Cincinnati in March, with ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting at the time that while the 25-year-old "loves Cincinnati," he was ready to find a new home after the two sides were unable to come to a long-term deal.
RELATED | ESPN: Tee Higgins requests a trade; 'disappointed' in lack of long-term deal
Since that request, Higgins has said he plans to play for the Bengals in 2024, stating at a youth football camp in April that he anticipates wearing orange and black this upcoming season.
"I do anticipate it," Higgins said. "... I've grown a love for Cincy that I didn't think I would, and I'm looking forward to it."
Under the franchise tag, Higgins is expected to earn $21.8 million this season, according to ESPN.
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