Noah Thomas turns early heads in Bengals camp, with Ja’Marr Chase drawing comparisons to Tee Higgins

The Cincinnati Bengals are only a few practices into training camp, but the early focus on the wide receiver group already includes a new name. Ja’Marr Chase has reportedly said that rookie wideout Noah Thomas shows “shades” of Tee Higgins, a comparison that matters because it speaks to how the club’s established players view Thomas’s game. Thomas is listed as a UDFA, meaning he is entering the season without the draft capital that typically draws attention in camp. Yet according to the report, he has been “grabbing passes” and getting noticeable attention for his play. In the NFL, those first impressions can be significant, especially when they come from the kind of peer group that directly competes for the same targets and snaps. The Tee Higgins reference adds context. Higgins, a former Bengals receiver known for his physicality and ability to win at the catch point, is a natural benchmark within the organization. When a star like Chase flags similarities, it suggests that Thomas’s style of route execution, timing, or competitiveness in contested situations is prompting reactions from the leaders in the room. For Bengals fans, the storyline is not just about hype around a new player. It is about depth and development at receiver, where one of the most important camp beats is identifying who can separate and sustain that separation once practices intensify. Early camp is also where quarterbacks and wideouts build rapport quickly, and the report’s emphasis on Thomas “grabbing passes” points to a player who is showing reliable hands and timing, not just running routes. From a team-building standpoint, the comparison also highlights how Cincinnati evaluates traits beyond pedigree. A UDFA can earn more than roster sympathy if his practice tape forces the coaches to think beyond the next couple of reps. The report frames Thomas as someone “already generating buzz from the people who matter most,” which in NFL terms usually means teammates, not just front-office optimism. Still, the appropriate caveat is timing. These are early practices, and camp buzz is often volatile until the schedule settles into full-team work and more targeted coverage. The Bengals will need to see the same production and quality repeat across sessions, including in situations that better mimic game plans, such as third-down looks and red-zone periods. What to watch next is straightforward: whether Thomas continues to make plays at a consistent rate, whether the Chase-Higgins comparison holds up as pads and coverage get tighter, and whether his role expands beyond early attention. If he keeps delivering catches in multiple practice environments, Cincinnati’s wide receiver evaluation could be moving faster than most people expect for a UDFA.