Tee Higgins knows exactly what this week feels like.
The Bengals receiver is getting ready for his first game against former teammate Trey Hendrickson, and he didn’t hide the fact that there’s real affection there even as Cincinnati prepares to line up against Baltimore in Week 7. Higgins and Hendrickson spent time together from 2021 to 2025, a stretch that included Cincinnati’s run to the Super Bowl in 2021, with Higgins making plays at receiver and Hendrickson doing his damage as a pass rusher.
Now, though, Hendrickson is wearing a Ravens uniform after choosing to leave the Bengals this past offseason. Higgins addressed the matchup on Thursday and made clear he still has plenty of respect for him, even if that all gets shelved once the game starts.
“That's my guy, man. I hope he does well, but I hope he don't.
Does that make sense? But, I’ve got the utmost respect for Trey.
He's always been good to me, so I got a lot of respect for him,” Higgins said, per reporter Mike Petraglia.
That’s the tone of it: plenty of love, but no confusion about what comes next.
Higgins has been rolling early in the 2026 season, too. Through five games, he has 27 catches for 423 yards and a touchdown, continuing to fit well with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase in an offense built to attack fast and often.
Cincinnati comes into the matchup at 3-2, sitting at the bottom of the AFC North standings behind the Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. The Bengals are ninth in the AFC, ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets but behind the Ravens and Steelers.
Tee Higgins on Trey Hendrickson “forgiving” Bengals Thursday for any hard feelings after he left after last season: “That's my guy, man. I hope he does well, but I hope he don't. Does that make sense? But, I’ve got the utmost respect for Trey. He's always been good to me, so I… pic.twitter.com/QJ8mVg57lJ
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) October 22, 2026
The next stop is on the road against Baltimore, with kickoff set for Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Bengals Head Into Ravens Test With One Defensive Problem To Fix
A familiar divisional test is waiting for Cincinnati in Week 7, and the defensive staff already has one issue circled. Al Golden pointed to perimeter run defense as the area that needs the most work after the Bengals gave up too many explosive outside runs through the first five games, a problem that can turn a routine snap into a long gain in a hurry. Against Baltimore, that kind of leak becomes even more dangerous because the Ravens are built to stretch defenses horizontally before attacking downhill.
Derrick Henry is the obvious stress point, and Cincinnati knows the game could tilt if it lets Baltimore dictate terms on the ground. Zac Taylor has also framed the matchup through the turnover battle, which adds another layer to a game that figures to be physical and possession-heavy. For the Bengals, the challenge is not just slowing one of the leagues most punishing backs, but doing it while cleaning up a run defense issue that has shown up too often already. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Trade Talk Is Suddenly Focusing On A More Realistic Fix
The Bengals running game has become a lingering concern, and it has put Chase Browns uneven season squarely in the spotlight as the trade deadline chatter starts to build. Jonathan Taylor is the obvious name to float if Cincinnati wants a bigger swing, but the more practical conversation has shifted toward other backs who could be available and better fit what the offense needs right now.
Among the alternatives being discussed are Omarion Hampton, Cam Skatterbo and Tony Pollard, each of them representing a different kind of fix for a ground game that has not found enough consistency. The appeal is not just talent, but realism: Cincinnati has to weigh who might actually be obtainable, who could help quickly and which move would make the most sense for a team trying to stabilize its offense without overreaching. [Read more 🡒]
Ja'Marr Chase Finally Opened Up About That Scary Bengals Injury
Ja'Marr Chase finally gave a clearer picture of the concussion that briefly took him off the field after the Bengals game against Jacksonville, and the detail helps explain why it looked so unsettling in real time. Speaking on a podcast, Chase described it as a whiplash-style injury caused by a twisting motion, the kind of hit that can leave a player feeling fine one moment and scrambled the next.
He also walked through the leagues concussion protocol and what the recovery week was like before he got back on the field against Miami. Chase said he had to stay away from screens and leaned on reading to pass the time, a small but telling reminder of how carefully these injuries are managed once a player is in the protocol. [Read more 🡒]