The Cincinnati Bengals are set to face off against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday. In the Bengals’ loss last Sunday, they were without star wide receiver Tee Higgins, who suffered a concussion against the Bills. The Bengals offense struggled without him as they failed to score any points in the loss.
Fortunately for Bengals fans, Tee Higgins returned to practice on Wednesday, although he is yet to clear concussion protocol. Higgins last played against the Bills, where he was evaluated for a concussion twice, but cleared to return to the game on both occasions. The wide receiver then experienced concussion symptoms the day after the game and reported them to the team. He was then added to concussion protocol and failed to clear in time for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.
Tee Higgins
Higgins participating in practice is a good sign for his availability in the Bengals’ upcoming game against Miami. However, the star wide receiver practiced last week as well on a limited basis before being ruled out. The extent of Higgins’ participation in practice remains to be seen. The concussion for Higgins marked his second of the season, which may be a reason he has yet to clear protocol.
The star wide receiver has only played in three games with starting quarterback Joe Burrow. He has 181 yards and three touchdowns in those three games. If he’s able to suit up on Sunday, he’d face off against a Dolphins defense that allowed four straight touchdown drives by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Higgins is currently averaging the second-lowest yards per game of his career. He will likely miss the 1,000 yard mark for the third consecutive season as he’s missed time with injuries in each of those seasons. Despite lacking in receiving yards, Higgins has made up for it with touchdowns. His nine touchdowns lead the Bengals, and the mark is one shy of matching his career-high.
Cincinnati Bengals vs Miami Dolphins
Next up for Cincinnati is a matchup in Miami, a game that features two teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention. Sunday’s game was originally slated to be on Sunday Night Football, but it was flexed out as both teams had below .500 records.
The Bengals will also face a rookie quarterback, as the Dolphins made the decision to bench quarterback Tua Tagovailoa prior to their game. Rookie Quinn Ewers will make his first career start, after being selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Ewers started for the Texas Longhorns for three years in college, and led the SEC with 31 touchdowns in his final season before declaring for the Draft.
The Bengals will aim to make life difficult for Miami’s new quarterback. They’ve struggled defensively all season as they have allowed 24 points or more in 14-straight games. Either way, having Tee Higgins in the lineup would provide a much needed boost for their offense. The last time Higgins was available for the Bengals, the offense totaled 34 points against Buffalo.
Bengals Get Good News on Tee Higgins Before Dolphins Game