The Bengals finally got the kind of response they needed Sunday, and it came with Joe Burrow finding Mike Gesicki for a short touchdown to get Cincinnati on the board against Jacksonville.
That score capped a quick second-half push that helped spark the offense, with Burrow and Tee Higgins continuing to carry the load as Cincinnati worked through its pass-catching depth. The Bengals were still chasing the Jaguars, though, trailing 13-10 while Ja’Marr Chase was being evaluated for a concussion after a heavy hit.
Burrow had already thrown one interception, but he otherwise looked sharp working with the next men up. He moved the offense with a mix of short completions and a scramble, connecting with Drew Meyers, Chase Brown and Higgins on a series of chain-moving plays before the drive reached the end zone.
The touchdown itself came on a 15-yard strike to Gesicki, with the play ending in the official book as: “(Shotgun) J.Burrow pass short middle to M.Gesicki for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. JAX-E.Murray was injured during the play. E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-W.Wagner, Holder-R.Rehkow.”
Before that, Burrow and the Bengals had pieced together the drive with completions to Meyers, Brown and Higgins, along with a scramble to the left side and another short gain to Brown. The drive also included a penalty that wiped out an incomplete pass to Elijah All and moved the ball five yards on a defensive offside call against Jacksonville.
Cincinnati’s other snap-by-snap work on the series included a Brown run that lost three yards, an incomplete throw to Higgins, and a sack of Burrow at the Cincinnati 30 for a three-yard loss. The Bengals then got a 28-yard return from Drew Meyers on the kickoff that followed the touchdown.
The score gave Cincinnati a much-needed lift, but the game remained tight with the Bengals trying to keep pace while dealing with Chase’s status and the earlier turnover from Burrow.
In Other News...
Bengals Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem Than Just One Bad Night
The Bengals Week 4 loss to Jacksonville was more than a frustrating 22-17 finish, because it also forced a hard look at how much of the roster held up when the game tightened. Cincinnati still got encouraging work from Dohnte Meyers and Tee Higgins, but the night turned choppy quickly after JaMarr Chase left for a concussion evaluation, and the offense never really settled into a rhythm from there.
What made the result sting was how many layers of the operation looked off at once. Jordan Battle and Dylan Fairchild drew criticism for their play, Zac Taylors offensive adjustments did not seem to solve the Jaguars pressure points, and Joe Burrows decision-making under pressure came under the microscope again, leaving the Bengals with a familiar but troubling question about whether this was just a bad night or something deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Tee Higgins Injury Leaves Bengals Facing One Big Offensive Concern
Tee Higgins night against the Jaguars ended with a late adductor injury, and it left the Bengals with one of the more immediate questions they can face this early in the week. Higgins tried to come back after leaving the game, but he was unable to continue, and Cincinnati still has not offered any recovery timeline as the team awaits further evaluation.
For a passing game that leans heavily on Higgins as one of its top targets, the timing matters as much as the injury itself. The Bengals now have to sort through what comes next without knowing how long they may be without him, and that uncertainty adds another layer to an offense already trying to keep its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Face A Ja'Marr Chase Scare They Can't Afford
JaMarr Chases afternoon against Jacksonville took an unwelcome turn when a facemask hit led to a head injury and a concussion evaluation, forcing the Bengals star receiver out of the game for a stretch. For a Cincinnati offense that leans heavily on Chase to set the tone, any pause in his availability immediately changes the feel of the sideline and the play-calling.
Zac Taylor also pointed to the broader reality the Bengals are dealing with, noting the strain of injuries across the receiver room with Chase among the players affected. Even when Chase is only listed as questionable to return, the ripple effect is clear for a team that cannot afford to lose more firepower while trying to stay on schedule offensively. [Read more 🡒]