Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has had a relatively quiet start to the season, catching seven passes for 104 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets through three games.
On Friday, Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase told reporters that he’s advocated Higgins to go ask for more looks if he wants.
Last season, Higgins amassed 109 targets in 12 games, or just over nine targets per game on average. He’s seen 4.67 targets per game this year, although one can guess that number will rise soon enough.
Simply put, Higgins is too talented to not be featured more prominently. Over six seasons, the former Clemson star has a 17-game average of 78 receptions for 1,094 yards and eight touchdowns, per Pro Football Reference.
Higgins (and the Bengals’) biggest challenge this year will be traversing the majority of the season without superstar quarterback Joe Burrow, who suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury that is expected to keep him out for a minimum of three months.
Jake Browning has replaced Burrow under center. He racked up the yards (241) and touchdowns (two) in a 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, but he also threw three interceptions.
Nothing went for the Bengals on either side of the ball last Sunday in a 48-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Browning threw for 140 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Ultimately, the Bengals still have a very talented offense skill position crew that could turn it around in short order.
Higgins has faith he and Chase will get going.
The Bengals are hitting the road in Week 4 to visit the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET.
