Impressive Homecoming Performance for Former Clemson WR
By: Robert MacRae December 15, 2024

It was a strong homecoming performance for Tee Higgins on Sunday.

The former Clemson wide receiver caught five passes for 88 yards and had an impressive touchdown reception, helping the Cincinnati Bengals to a 37-27 road win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 15 of the NFL season.

Higgins, a native of Oak Ridge, Tenn., provided one of the highlights of the game in Nashville with his 38-yard touchdown catch from Joe Burrow late in the second quarter.

The 6-foot-4, 219-pounder hauled in the deep pass between two defenders and took a big hit, but held onto the ball in the end zone.

That score put Cincinnati (6-8) in front, 21-14, and gave the Bengals the lead they would never relinquish.

Higgins has missed a handful of games this season due to injury but been productive when healthy, posting 45 catches for 581 yards and five scores in eight games entering Sunday’s contest.

A second-round pick (33rd overall) of the Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft, Higgins came into Sunday’s game with 302 receptions, 4,265 yards and 29 touchdowns over 66 career games from 2020-24.

Higgins’ future in Cincinnati remains in limbo, as he’s been looking for a long-term deal and is currently playing under the franchise tag. He and his agent, David Mulugheta, have parted ways.

One of the top receivers in Clemson’s rich history at the position, Higgins finished his three-year career as a Tiger from 2017-19 with 135 career receptions for 2,448 yards and 27 receiving touchdowns in 43 games. He had 12 touchdown catches in 2018 and added 13 more touchdown receptions in 2019 to leave Tiger Town as the only player in school history to record double-digit touchdown receptions in consecutive seasons.

Higgins and the Bengals will head back to Cincy and host the Cleveland Browns next Sunday in Week 16.

–Photo courtesy Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images