Tee Higgins didn't get the long-term deal he wanted this offseason, but he isn't sitting out due to a contractual issue.
The Cincinnati Bengals' star receiver rebutted the speculative notion that his absence from the lineup has anything to do with his contract. Higgins has been out with a hamstring injury suffered during practice on Sept. 5.
"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," Higgins told ESPN's Ben Baby on Thursday. "I just don't understand why they think I'm faking an injury. It doesn't make sense to me."
The Bengals placed a $21.8 million franchise tag on Higgins this offseason, keeping him from cashing in on the open market. After the July 15 deadline passed, Higgins can only play on a one-year deal, so sitting out at this stage would provide little benefit.
"I prepare myself to go out here and dominate, start of Week 1," Higgins told ESPN. "Unfortunately, four days before the game, I have a hamstring tweak that I didn't think was as bad, so I made the comments I did after [practice].
"I didn't think it was bad until, obviously, I got it checked on the next day. It was worse than what I thought."
Higgins said he felt "amazing" heading toward the season-opening game but tweaked his hamstring. He was inactive for Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots and hasn't practiced this week.
"I want to go out there and give my teammates a hundred percent of Tee Higgins, you know what I'm saying?" Higgins said. "I don't want to give them 50% and half-ass it just to be a presence on the field."
Higgins' status for Sunday's matchup against the reigning Super Bowl Champion Chiefs in Kansas City remains uncertain at this stage.