Higgins sparks Cincinnati’s offense late in the season

Despite averaging 63.3 receiving yards per game in 2019, Ross doesn’t seem like he’s in position to win a starting job. That leaves the former first-round pick on the bench with Alex Erickson and Auden Tate. Assuming Tee Higgins picks up the information he needs in training camp, the former National Champion will start alongside Boyd and Green.

Cincinnati’s offense is full of question marks this year. Jonah Williams, who missed his entire rookie season with an injury, is taking over at left tackle. Green is back after missing a year and a half, and the Bengals only recently added reigning Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow. The only returning cornerstones on the offense are Boyd and Joe Mixon.

With all of the upheaval, it doesn’t seem possible for the Bengals to come out swinging in 2020. Despite his historic college career, Burrow needs time to adjust to the NFL. So does Higgins. It won’t take the 21-year-old as long as fellow Clemson alum, Mike Williams, to get up to speed in the pros, but it could take a few weeks.

In his final two collegiate seasons, Higgins produced 118 receptions for 2,103 yards and 25 touchdowns. He faces new challenges at the NFL level, but so does the rest of Cincinnati’s young offense.

The Bengals almost have too many weapons. Several veterans, probably Erickson and Tate, won’t see as many snaps in 2020 as they did in 2019. That could still leave Higgins with fewer targets than he deserves, but 70 seems like a reasonable total.

Cincy’s stud rookie could reasonably haul in 50 receptions for 875 yards and seven touchdowns. Tee Higgins went vertical during his three seasons at Clemson, averaging 18.1 yards per reception. We’ll see him play a similar role this season as he gets acclimated to life as a pro.