What a difference a year has made for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

After three years of offseason contract drama, Higgins earned a long-term deal from the Bengals. Cincinnati’s front office gave the wide receiver a four-year deal worth $115 million.

At this time last year, Higgins didn’t know where his future would be following the season and was dealing with an injury that occurred during practice two days before the season-opener.

His season didn’t get off to the way he hoped. But this year, things feel completely different for Higgins.

Higgins was then ruled out for the Bengals’ Week 1 home game against the New England Patriots. He then went on to miss five games last season.

“I feel amazing,” Higgins said Sept. 4. “Last year, Friday was the time I got the injury. I feel great, it’s so crazy, we had the interview on Thursday, and I got hurt that next day which is crazy. But I’m not going to speak that into existence. It’s in the past. I feel good, I’m ready for Sunday.”

Higgins said his “ultimate goal” this season is to stay healthy for all 17 games. Only twice in his five-year career has Higgins been able to play in every game. Higgins missed more games last year than ever before, prompting him to take a serious look at his body maintenance routine.

He was able to participate in each practice during training camp and the Bengals seem to have a plan in place on how to manage his reps. Higgins said he’s added more stretching to his pre- and post-practice routines.

The Bengals have one more practice to get Higgins through before leaving for Cleveland on Sept. 6. If Higgins can get through that, franchise quarterback Joe Burrow will have both of his top targets for the season-opener unlike last year.

Higgins is coming off a season in which he cemented his case as one of the top wideouts in football. He caught 109 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing the five games.

And although he was reluctant to go into detail about his personal goals, he did say he wants to break 1,000 receiving yards this season and if he’s able to play every game like he wants, there’s no reason to believe he won’t.

“I want to break a 1,000 this year,” Higgins said. “I was close last year. I’ve done it, I want to do it again. It’s one of my goals.”