CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals will be without wide receiver Tee Higgins when they face the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday. This marks the second game he has missed this season while in concussion protocol.
Higgins previously sat out the Bengals” Thanksgiving Day victory over the Ravens, which ended with a score of 32-14 in Baltimore. After being limited during practice earlier in the week, he was absent from the media-accessible portion of Friday”s session.
The injury troubles for Higgins began on November 23 against the New England Patriots, when he suffered a significant fall while attempting to catch a pass. He remained on the field for several minutes before being carted off. Following that incident, he was inactive just four days later against the Ravens.
On December 7, during a matchup with the Buffalo Bills, Higgins experienced another hard fall and was slow to get back up. Despite passing concussion tests during the game, he reported symptoms later that evening, leading to his return to the protocol.
“I”m a team-first guy, you know what I mean,” Higgins stated after the game against the Bills. “My team needed me. I felt like they did, so I went out there and played.” In that game, he recorded six receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, one of which occurred after his final concussion assessment.
With Higgins sidelined, wide receiver Mitch Tinsley is expected to see an increase in playing time. In the previous encounter against Baltimore, where Higgins was absent, Tinsley participated in 67% of the offensive snaps for Cincinnati. He has risen as a key backup behind Higgins, All-Pro Ja”Marr Chase, and veteran Andrei Iosivas.
Following a less-than-ideal performance in the first game against the Ravens, where he had two catches on nine targets, Tinsley expressed eagerness for another chance. “For sure I would love to get more opportunities against them,” he said. “Some of the opportunities didn”t go my way last time. But whatever opportunities I get, whether it”s one or however many, it”s just about being in the moment and executing when I”m supposed to.”
In other injury updates, rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart is likely to remain on injured reserve as he continues to recover from a torn ligament in his left knee. Although the Bengals opened his practice window this week, he is doubtful to participate in the game against Baltimore.
