Tee Higgins Back in Concussion Protocol as Bengals’ Season Slips Further Away
The Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff hopes took a serious hit in more ways than one on Sunday. A 39-34 loss to the Buffalo Bills in a snow-slicked game at Orchard Park didn’t just push the Bengals further down the AFC North standings - it also came with a troubling development for one of their biggest offensive weapons. Wide receiver Tee Higgins is back in concussion protocol.
This marks the second time this season Higgins has entered the protocol, having already missed the Bengals’ Thanksgiving win over Baltimore with the same issue. And anytime you’re talking about recurring concussion symptoms, it’s a red flag - not just for the player’s availability, but for his long-term health.
The Bengals, of course, have a lot invested in Higgins - a $115 million contract extension with nearly $41 million guaranteed. But that investment pales in comparison to the importance of protecting his future.
With Cincinnati’s postseason prospects hanging by a thread - and realistically, slipping away after the late-game collapse in Buffalo - there’s little reason to rush Higgins back. Through 12 games, he’s hauled in 46 catches for 667 yards and nine touchdowns, continuing to be a dangerous red-zone threat when healthy. That “when healthy” caveat, though, has become a recurring theme.
Higgins has now missed five games in each of the past two seasons, and with his status for Sunday’s home matchup against the Ravens in question, the Bengals may be forced to take the field without one of their most reliable targets yet again. It’s a tough situation for a player who, at 6-foot-4 with elite body control, brings a unique physicality to Cincinnati’s passing game - especially when paired with Ja’Marr Chase. Together, they form one of the most dynamic receiving duos in the league, giving Joe Burrow the kind of weapons most quarterbacks dream of.
But availability is everything in this league, and Higgins’ injury history is starting to raise real concerns. Some players, regardless of size or skill, just seem to have a harder time staying on the field. And for a Bengals team that lives and dies by its offense - especially with a defense currently allowing a league-worst 410.5 yards and 31.8 points per game - losing a key playmaker like Higgins only makes the margin for error even thinner.
If Cincinnati is going to continue building around Burrow and this high-powered aerial attack, keeping its top pass-catchers healthy isn’t just a luxury - it’s a necessity.
For now, the focus shifts away from football and toward Higgins’ health. The Bengals can only hope the next update brings good news, but the priority has to be ensuring he gets the care he needs - no matter how long it takes.