With reports of the Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl WR Josh Gordon set to miss Cleveland’s first road game of the 2018-19 season vs. the New Orleans Saints, look for third-year wideout Rashard Higgins to get a bigger role down in the Big Easy.
One of the few remnants of the Sashi Brown era, the 6’2, 198-pound Higgins—also known as “Hollywood” is a reliable and sure-handed WR, likely to get a lot of targets from Tyrod Taylor due to the absence of Gordon.
Likely to to be the third receiver and in Gordon’s X-spot behind Jarvis Landry and rookie Antonio Callaway, there is no lack of confidence in the former Colorado State standout. Higgins, who was a consensus All-American and Biletnikoff Award finalist for college football’s top WR in 2014, led college football in receiving yard, (1,750) and receiving TD’s (17).
Drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Higgins has shown flashes of why he has the “Hollywood” moniker in being one of Cleveland’s few bright spots during last season’s winless season in hauling in two touchdown passes at Pittsburgh in the season finale.
From being waived, to being re-signed to the practice squad and now being called upon to step up in placed on Flash, Higgins is ready to ball.
While not as big or physically gifted as Gordon, Higgins has the talent and catching ability to move the chains and make big plays when called upon, such as his lone catch for 38 yards vs. the Steelers in last Sunday’s 21-21 tie.
In what will be a fast track and a game in which a lot of points will be needed to keep up with Drew Brees inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, look for Higgins to ball out and be a big factor on Sunday.