Bengals receiver claps back at fans claiming he’s faking his injury after reported links to the Patriots.

Cincinnati Bengals’ receiver Tee Higgins missed Week 1’s game against the New England Patriots and is on the verge of missing out on Week 2’s matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Higgins has been dealing with a hamstring injury that occurred during practice earlier this month. Since then, whispers of Higgins supposedly faking an injury amid his contract dispute began circulating. After failing to reach an agreement on a long-term deal by the deadline in February, the Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins. Higgins is set to make $21.8 million this season.

After getting franchise tagged, Higgins reportedly requested a trade from the team in March. A month later, Higgins shared, “I’ve grown a love for Cinci that I didn’t think I would. Looking forward to it [resigning with the Bengals].”

Even though Higgins is in better spirits, the deadline for franchised players to sign a long-term deal was in July 15. Now the Bengals and Higgins cannot negotiate a contract until the end of the 2024 regular season. There are three possible outcomes when that time arrives — Bengals re-sign Higgins, Higgins tests out free agency or the Bengals franchise tag Higgins again.

For the time being, Higgins had to set the record straight that the injury had nothing to do with with not getting a contract done.

“I just don’t understand why fans think I’m faking an injury, when for me to get an extension for a contract, the deadline is over. I just don’t understand why they think I’m faking an injury. It doesn’t make sense to me,” Higgins told ESPN’s Ben Baby.

Before Week 1 and during last Thursday’s injury report, Higgins shared that he felt “amazing” and was “ready to go.” Ultimately Higgins didn’t participate in practice the rest of the week. He then was listed as doubtful for the game against the Patriots before he was officially listed as inactive.

Higgins revealed to Baby that he “tweaked” the hamstring four days before the game. And after getting it checked out, he said the injury was worse than previously thought.

“I want to go out there and give my teammates 100 percent of Tee Higgins, you know what I’m saying? I don’t want to give them 50 percent and half-ass it just to be a presence on the field,” Higgins continued.

Higgins has been a reliable pass catcher for quarterback Joe Burrow. In Higgin’s last two seasons with the Bengals, he put up two 1,000-plus yard seasons (1,091 in 2021 and 1,029 in 2022) and 13 total touchdowns. The 2023 season was a dip in production mostly related to injuries. In 2023, Higgins recorded 656 receiving yards and five TDs.

Besides dealing with two contract disputes — Higgins and WR Ja’Marr Chase‘s– the Bengals began the season with a 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots. Higgins was not active in Thursday’s practice and is still listed as “questionable” heading into Week 2.