"We are so cooked": Bengals fans on edge as Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins face doubts for Week 1

After a busy offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals are kicking off their 2024 NFL season against the revamped New England Patriots on Sunday. The AFC North division candidate is trying to bounce back from a rather disappointing 2023 season where they were unable to compete, even with Joe Burrow on the field.

Things could go wrong for the Bengals even before the game starts. NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Cincinnati has listed Tee Higgins as doubtful and Ja'Marr Chase as questionable for Sunday's game. Embarking on a new season without their two biggest weapons isn't ideal for them, and fans are well aware of that.

Once the report came out, they quickly shared their concerns about this potential scenario, while others criticized the situation the Bengals are in with Chase and Higgins' deals.

"No we are so cooked," one fan said.

"That teams a disaster," another fan said.

"This is why Tee didn’t get the big contract. Every year he misses games," another fan wrote.

A group of fans said that Higgins and Chase are trying to force their team's hand ahead of the season opener.

"Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase are playing Chess while the @Bengals are playing Checkers," one fan wrote.

After a 9-8 finish last season, the 2021 AFC champions couldn't make it to the postseason. With Joe Burrow injured, they couldn't do much to move past the Ravens, Browns and Steelers. The quarterback is healthy and ready to compete from the get-go, but they won't be as nearly as dangerous as they could be with Higgins and Chase on the sides.

Ja'Marr Chase explains what he's trying to achieve with new Bengals deal

The Cincinnati Bengals had a busy offseason, and those unresolved situations could create friction during the regular season. Ja'Marr Chase, one of the premier wide receivers in the league, is still negotiating a contract extension.

Despite returning to practice ahead of the Patriots game, the contract situation is still looming. Then again, Chase made it clear that if he overtakes Justin Jefferson as the highest-paid wide receiver ever, it would be by a landslide, not just by a penny, as some have suggested.

This potential deal could put Cincinnati in a complex position, as Tee Higgins, who was given the franchise tag, will be gone if Chase and the team come to terms on a new and potentially historic deal.