The Cincinnati Bengals might just be buyers at the NFL trade deadline—and they certainly aren't trading wide receiver Tee Higgins.

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Bengals won't entertain the idea of Higgins trade: "Also: I was told they are not trading wideout Tee Higgins."

That's pretty explicit in a way that seems to say the Bengals won't move Higgins no matter what happens during this weekend's game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

While we've written that the Bengals should be sellers if they drop to 3-6 there, the actual possibility of the team trading Higgins has always been near zero.

Those Bengals just aren't in the habit of trading away players often and especially not players on franchise tags.

With the AFC a close mess, the offense so much better with Higgins on the field and the slim chance the team can still re-sign him this offseason alongside extending Ja'Marr Chase, the Bengals aren't likely to entertain any trade offers.

Of course, Higgins actually getting on the field is a big issue. He's on pace to miss his second straight game in a row after suffering a quad injury running routes during a Friday practice. A different soft-tissue injury cost him the first two games of this season, too, and nagging hamstring issues have plagued his pro career to date.

Not that any of this will shock Bengals fans, but the report is notable, especially when the national speculation continues to point at Higgins as a possible mover at the deadline.

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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals WR Tee Higgins' trade deadline fate made clear in new report