CINCINNATI — Former Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson has been in contact with Tee Higgins “a few times” this offseason amidst the star wideout’s trade request and contract stalemate with Cincinnati.

Higgins is slated to play on the $21.8 million franchise tag this season after the Bengals tagged him a couple of months ago.

“I think we’re going to work it out. We’ll figure it out,” Johnson told TMZ Sports about the contract issues between the two sides.

That’s a lot of money to give up if Higgins decides to hold out, and it wouldn’t even help his goal of playing elsewhere if he did. Players only earn “a credited season if you are on the active, inactive, IR or PUP roster for three or more regular or post-season NFL games.”

He’d still have just four years played and be subject to the first franchise tag again next year if he doesn’t show up for at least three games.

“It’s business — it’s the nature of the business,” Johnson concluded. “He’s going to be all right, though.”