The Cincinnati Bengals are fresh off a 24-0 loss to the Ravens that officially eliminated them from playoff contention. Following the game, the Bengals received more bad news as star wide receiver Tee Higgins has yet to clear the concussion protocol.
Higgins missed the Ravens game with a concussion, and the team failed to score any points without him. It marked the first time the Bengals had been shut out all season, and the first time Joe Burrow had been left without points in his career.
Tee Higgins
Injuries are nothing new for Tee Higgins. He’s missed five games in each of the last two seasons and has already missed two games this season. The star wide receiver was able to practice on a limited basis last week, but failed to clear concussion protocol in time for Sunday’s game against Baltimore. Higgins later reported experiencing concussion symptoms following the game against the Bills. During the game, he was evaluated twice for a concussion, but he was cleared to return on both occasions.
Despite missing two games, Higgins still leads the Bengals with nine receiving touchdowns. However, his yards per game have diminished from last season, going from 75.9 yards per game to 55.6. The 26-year-old wide receiver agreed to a four-year, $115 million deal with the Bengals. Cincinnati was originally hesitant to give him a long-term deal as they placed the franchise tag on him twice.
The Bengals receiver has not cleared the 1,000 yard mark since the 2022 season. The aforementioned injuries have played a significant role in that. Whether or not Higgins will return this season remains to be seen. Teams tend to be extra careful with injuries whenever there’s nothing left to play for, and for the Bengals, the postseason is unattainable now.
Upcoming Games for Cincinnati
The Cincinnati Bengals currently find themselves with the ninth overall selection in the upcoming NFL Draft. They have not selected in the top ten since taking Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth overall pick in the 2021 Draft. Cincinnati may not end up with a top ten selection if they play at full force, as their upcoming schedule eases up. Now, the Bengals will face three teams who are below .500, and two of those three games will be in Cincinnati.
Regarding perhaps playing for draft position and avoiding risking further injuries to his roster, head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that Joe Burrow will continue starting the rest of the season. When asked for a reason, he said “Because we want to win.”
There’s been speculation regarding the job security of Zac Taylor, which is perhaps also a reason why he’s opting to close the year out strong. Since those two straight playoff appearances, which included an AFC Championship win, Taylor has gone 22-26. His overall record as a head coach is now 50-62-1. He has now officially missed the postseason for the third consecutive season. Pro Football Network described his situation as “What once seemed like a settled situation for Zac Taylor now carries a degree of uncertainty that has drawn attention from decision makers and peers alike.”
Bengals Get Bad News on Tee Higgins After Ravens Game