When you think of elite wide receiver tandems in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals' duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins immediately comes to mind. For years, they've been the engine driving Joe Burrow's high-powered offense, putting up numbers that make defensive coordinators lose sleep.

But here's the thing about Higgins: despite his undeniable talent, a frustrating string of injuries over the past two seasons has kept him from reaching his full potential. His production has dipped, and while that's expected when you're banged up, it's left a notable gap in his career resume.

Now, as he gears up for Year 7, Higgins is setting his sights on a milestone that might surprise you he hasn't already achieved. "I'm trying to shoot for that 1,000 yards this year," Higgins told Rob Gregson of A to Z Sports. "I missed that the last few seasons. I'm trying to get at least 10 touchdowns. Just throwing some goals out there."

It's a bold and refreshingly honest target. In his six-year career, Higgins has only cracked the 1,000-yard mark twice. The last two seasons? He's hovered in the 800+ yard range while still managing double-digit touchdowns—impressive numbers, but not quite the elite benchmark he's chasing.

The silver lining? He's been doing all of this while playing through injuries and missing games. If Higgins can finally stay healthy for a full 17-game slate, there's every reason to believe he'll not only hit that 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown goal but smash it. For a receiver who's been a key piece of one of the league's most explosive offenses, 2026 might just be the season he proves he belongs in the conversation with the NFL's very best.