When the Bengals open the 2024 season against the Patriots on Sunday, they may not have both of their top receivers. Ja’Marr Chase may not play due to his contract, and Tee Higgins likely won’t play due to injury.

Higgins has a hamstring injury. He wasn’t on the injury report on Wednesday. He was limited on Thursday. And then he didn’t train on Friday.

He is listed as questionable. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the current thinking is that he will not be able to play. And it has nothing to do with his contractual situation, we are told.

Higgins spent more than a year trying to get a second deal. The Bengals applied the franchise tag, and the deadline for a long-term contract expired on July 15. While he can’t get a multi-year deal at this point, he may be tempted to protect himself. That could prompt him to not play unless and until he’s 100 percent.

That’s one of the risks of not giving a guy long-term financial security. If they don’t have it, they’re not going to embrace the increased risk of injury that comes with playing injured.