The Bengals have a little injury fog hanging over their receiver room heading into Week 1, but the team still expects its top two wideouts to be ready when the season opens against Tampa Bay.
Tee Higgins was held out of Wednesday’s practice after taking part in all of Cincinnati’s preseason work and practices. ESPN’s Ben Baby was first to note the absence, writing, “Tee Higgins is not practicing today,” Ben Baby said.
“But he did run up the hill.” Higgins is dealing with a heel injury, specifically a heel contusion, which is essentially a severe bruise.
The exact severity hasn’t been made clear.
Even with the setback, the Bengals are confident Higgins will be available for the opener. Cincinnati is counting on another strong year from the 27-year-old receiver, who finished as the team’s second-leading receiver in 2025 with 59 catches for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Higgins wasn’t the only Bengals star receiver sidelined from Wednesday’s session. Ja’Marr Chase also missed practice, according to Baby.
“Also, Ja’Marr Chase not practicing as anticipated but here for a sweltering afternoon practice,” Baby wrote. Chase is working through a hyperextended knee suffered in practice last week.
The injury looked alarming at the time, but the expectation is that the 26-year-old will be good to go for Week 1.
After last season’s disappointment, Cincinnati is trying to reset with a better run this year. For that to happen, the Bengals need both Higgins and Chase on the field and functioning at full speed.
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