Tee Higgins to Swap Bengals’ Jersey Number to 5 from Chad Johnson’s No. 85
AP Photo/Aaron Doster
The No. 85 jersey has brought impartial fortune to a pair of Cincinnati Bengals receivers. Tee Higgins will no longer be one of those gamers.
HIggins told newshounds Thursday he intends to swap to the No. 5 jersey in fragment to honor Chad Johnson:
Mike Petraglia @Trags
Tee Higgins changing his quantity from 85 as a tribute to Chad Johnson who he believes will be honored in future. Says he would no longer are making an try to be Ocho 2.0. #Bengals pic.twitter.com/HlfGBXF4Rd
Johnson is Cincinnati’s all-time leading receiver and the most renowned Bengals player to establish on No. 85. Sooner than him also got here four-time First rate Bowler Isaac Curtis and Tim McGee, who sit third and ninth, respectively, in franchise history in receiving yards.
Sooner than this season, the NFL relaxed its uniform guidelines and allowed gamers to consume a glorious wider quantity of numbers in step with their region. That opened the door for Higgins to return to the quantity he feeble for his three years at Clemson.
The 22-year-gentle previously told First rate Football Point of curiosity’ Ian Hartitz in Might perchance also, “My heart is at 5,” but that he did no longer are making an try to originate the swap on tale of some Bengals followers will believe already equipped his jersey. He then took a guideline from Hartitz and said he’d dash to No. 5 if he caught 10 touchdowns in his 2nd year.
Higgins caught four passes for 58 yards and one ranking in Cincinnati’s 27-24 retract over the Minnesota Vikings, so he’s slowly making his arrangement toward the magic quantity. Interestingly he did no longer are making an try to wait around, despite the reality that.
Cincinnati Bengals @Bengals
YOU CAN’T STOP 85! @JoeyB to @teehiggins5 for our first landing of the season.
📺: #MINvsCIN on FOX pic.twitter.com/tPmzXSR8dO
The Bengals believe retired handiest one quantity (No. 54, Bob Johnson) of their history. Johnson would perchance favor to acquire in line within the serve of diversified franchise cornerstones akin to Anthony Munoz, Willie Anderson, Ken Riley, Boomer Esiason and Ken Anderson, all of whom are equally—if no longer more so—deserving of the honor.
Whether the No. 85 is retired or no longer, Higgins will believe the likelihood to slice out a legacy where none exists in Cincinnati. Simplest 5 gamers believe previously veteran No. 5 for the Bengals: Ryan Finley, Jeff Hayes, AJ McCarron, Jordan Palmer and Neil Rackers.