Source: Before the Bengals OTAs, Tee Higgins is not anticipated to sign a contract.

Tee Higgins’s stay away from Cincinnati will be extended due to an unresolved contract issue.

According to a source who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday, the Bengals’ top receiver has not yet signed his franchise tender and is not anticipated to do so by next week. As a result, Higgins will not be able to participate in Cincinnati’s scheduled team activities, which are scheduled for May 28–30 and June 3-6.

The required minicamp for Cincinnati is set on June 11–13. Higgins needs to sign before he can return to the team.

Higgins’ long-term contract with the Bengals has not been agreed upon. A source informed ESPN that the two parties haven’t talked about an extension in almost a year. Higgins is the only one of the eight players who received the franchise tag this offseason who hasn’t committed to a multiyear deal.

Report: Tee Higgins won't sign his tender before next week's OTAs - NBC Sports

Earlier this month, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow voiced support for Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who are both seeking new deals.

“Those guys have their business they need to take care of,” Burrow said May 7. “I support them in every way. Both those guys have earned everything that has come to them and more. I’ll support them all the way through it.”

Hendrickson and Higgins both requested trades this offseason.

Hendrickson, who received a one-year extension in July 2023, arrived for voluntary offseason workouts last week and said he is planning on playing for the Bengals this season despite a firm response on his trade request.

Higgins, during an appearance at a local youth football camp in April, indicated he was planning to play for the Bengals this year as well.

Higgins and the Bengals have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal. Otherwise, Higgins will be set to earn $21.8 million on a one-year deal if and when he signs the tender before Nov. 12, which is the final day a player under the franchise tag must sign and still be able to play this season.

Higgins has been one of the Bengals’ top wide receivers since being drafted in the second round in 2020. The former Clemson standout has 3,684 receiving yards and 24 receiving touchdowns in four seasons.

He has also dealt with injuries. Last year, rib and hamstring issues limited Higgins to just 12 games.