The Cincinnati Bengals got more than a loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. They also had to watch Tee Higgins leave with an apparent adductor injury late in the game, a development that immediately put his status in question.
Higgins tried to return late but couldn’t stay on the field, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Baby reported that the Bengals wide receiver suffered the injury in the loss to Jacksonville and was unable to continue after giving it another shot.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins suffered an adductor injury late in the loss to JAX. Tried to give it a go late but couldn’t.
- Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 4, 2026
The injury is a notable hit for Cincinnati because Higgins had been rolling early this season and had already become a major piece of Joe Burrow’s passing game. His combination of size and downfield playmaking has made him one of the offense’s most important weapons.
That’s part of what makes the timing sting for the Bengals. Higgins entered Week 4 without an injury designation, practiced fully all week, and was active for the matchup with Jacksonville. There was no warning sign heading into the game.
He also came in with momentum. In Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Higgins caught six passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, helping set the tone for his strong start to the year.
For now, Cincinnati has not given a recovery timeline. Higgins’ next steps will depend on further evaluation, and the Bengals should learn more once the adductor injury is assessed.
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The concern for the Bengals goes beyond one player leaving a Sunday game. With other receivers already handling larger workloads, Chases potential absence would force Cincinnati to lean even harder on a group that has been asked to absorb more responsibility lately. For an offense built around his playmaking, the question now is how much it can keep its rhythm if he has to miss time. [Read more 🡒]