Cincinnati Bengals DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed exclusive-rights free-agent quarterback Jake Browning to an undisclosed two-year deal on Tuesday on a contract through the 2025 season. Browning got his first real shot in the NFL last year with the Bengals when he was forced to replace Joe Burrow (wrist) after his season-ending injury. In his first nine games (seven starts) played in the NFL, he held his own and kept the Bengals competitive despite not making the playoffs, posting a league-best 70.4 completion percentage, 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 28-year-old will return to being the primary backup to Burrow in 2024, so he won't have any real fantasy appeal unless Burrow misses time with another injury.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins remains without a new contract. He also hasn't been traded, something he recently requested. However, it appears there's still hope that the wideout plays at least one more season in Cincinnati, even if it's under a $21.8 million franchise tag. While speaking to Charlie Clifford of WXIX-TV, Higgins anticipates suiting up for the Bengals for the 2024-25 campaign. Not only that, he mentioned he's looking forward to it while expressing his fondness for the franchise and the city. With that said, Higgins is coming off a down year, amassing 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns. He also missed five games due to injury. But if anyone can bounce back for fantasy managers, it's the 2020 No. 33 overall pick, especially if Joe Burrow (wrist) can stay healthy. Both sides have until mid-July to agree to a new contract.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) has been plagued by numerous injuries over the years. He suffered a season-ending knee injury as a rookie and was burdened by a calf strain early in the 2023-24 campaign. As a result, he struggled by throwing just two touchdowns in the first four games of the season. Unfortunately, despite turning things around, the signal-caller sustained a wrist injury in November and had another season end abruptly. But Burrow is adamant he's doing everything he can to stay on the field this season. "I'm confident I've put all the work in I need to make sure I'm healthy," said Burrow while speaking to Geoff Hobson of the team's official site. "I'm continuing year-to-year to better hone that and make that more efficient." The former LSU Tiger is anticipated to be cleared well before Week 1 but will continue to rehab in the immediate future. With that said, Burrow has the potential to be the top quarterback in the National Football League. Yet, his inability to stay healthy is something that will remain a significant concern for fantasy managers.

According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, Cincinnati hopes to keep wide receiver Tee Higgins on the roster. The wideout was franchise-tagged a few months ago but requested a trade. Although it was reported that the team would entertain phone calls, Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn, speaking at league meetings, indicated that Higgins' contract is a "focus." The 25-year-old is coming off a down season, finishing the 2023-24 campaign with 656 yards and five touchdowns off 42 catches. But most concerning, he dealt with various ailments, limiting him to just 12 games. At any rate, Higgins has a chance to bounce back if he remains in Cincinnati, which appears the most likely scenario, considering there reportedly hasn't been much interest from other clubs. However, for the 2020 No. 33 overall pick to turn things around, Joe Burrow (wrist) must stay healthy. Higgins will need to figure out how to do the same.

Free-agent kicker Cade York re-signed with the Cleveland Browns on an undisclosed deal on Saturday, according to a source. York will return to the team that drafted him in the fourth round (124th overall) in 2022 out of LSU after he made only 24 of his 32 field-goal attempts and 35 of his 37 extra-point tries in 17 games in his rookie year in 2022. The 23-year-old kicker was cut by Cleveland in training camp last summer and spent the entire year languishing on the practice squads for the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants. The Browns already have Dustin Hopkins and Lucas Havrisik at the position heading into offseason workouts, so York will merely be competing for a job in Cleveland this summer. He's off the fantasy radar for now.