The Cincinnati Bengals will be without one of their top offensive weapons this Sunday when they take on the Baltimore Ravens, as head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that wide receiver Tee Higgins has been ruled out.
Higgins entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after last week’s game against the Buffalo Bills. The 26-year-old wideout initially cleared in-game evaluation after a hard fall on a highlight-reel catch, but later developed symptoms that triggered further medical review. Despite returning to action in that game, the Bengals are now taking the cautious route, keeping him sidelined as he works through the protocol.
Before exiting the Bills game, Higgins was cooking. He hauled in six passes for 92 yards and found the end zone twice - a reminder of just how dangerous he can be when healthy. That performance pushed his season totals to 46 catches for 667 yards and a team-leading nine touchdown receptions over 12 games.
This isn’t the first time the Bengals have had to line up without Higgins against the Ravens. He also missed their first meeting this season after suffering a concussion in the aftermath of Cincinnati’s Nov. 23 matchup with the Patriots. Now, once again, the Bengals will need to adjust their offensive approach without their big-bodied playmaker on the perimeter.
And the injury report doesn’t stop there. Cincinnati’s defense will be down a key contributor as well, with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson out after undergoing core muscle surgery earlier this week. Hendrickson has been a disruptive force up front all season, and his absence creates a significant void in the Bengals’ pass rush.
Rookie defensive lineman Shemar Stewart is also trending in the wrong direction for Sunday. Taylor listed him as doubtful as he continues to recover from a knee injury, further thinning Cincinnati’s defensive depth.
With the Ravens looming and the AFC playoff picture tightening, these absences come at a tough time for a Bengals team still fighting to stay in the hunt. The offense will need to find new ways to generate explosive plays without Higgins, and the defense will have to get creative to pressure Lamar Jackson without Hendrickson leading the charge.
It’s a tall task, but Cincinnati’s resilience has been tested before. Now it’s about finding answers - and fast - with the postseason hanging in the balance.