The Cincinnati Bengals prepare for a Week 16 road game against the Miami Dolphins. Tee Higgins remains in the concussion protocol after reporting symptoms following the team’s Week 14 game. Will fantasy football managers have their star receiver available for this week?
Tee Higgins Injury Update
Higgins sustained a concussion in the team’s Week 12 matchup against the New England Patriots after landing hard on the turf. The veteran receiver went down in the fourth quarter of Cincinnati’s 26-20 defeat at Paycor Stadium. Cincinnati immediately ruled him out for the rest of the contest. Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed afterward that Higgins entered the league’s concussion protocol.​
After missing Week 13, by Friday before Week 14, Higgins had cleared the protocol. He participated on a limited basis Wednesday before upgrading to full participation Thursday.​
While Higgins did return for the Week 14 contest, the game did not unfold smoothly. He required evaluation for another head injury on two separate occasions during the Bills matchup. Medical personnel cleared him to continue playing each time despite having exited the protocol just two days earlier.​
Following the contest, Higgins reported experiencing symptoms and reentered the protocol. The NFL and NFLPA released a joint statement confirming Higgins was evaluated twice during the game and cleared to return. During a postgame evaluation, he informed the team he was experiencing symptoms and was immediately placed back in the concussion protocol.​
This represents Higgins’ second time in the protocol within three weeks and his third career concussion. Surprisingly, Higgins managed to participate on a limited basis during Wednesday’s practice last week.​
Players recovering from concussions rarely suit up unless they begin the week with at least limited participation. Higgins must advance to full participation by Friday before receiving final approval from an independent neurologist.​
However, Higgins regressed as the week continued and was downgraded to DNP for Thursday and Friday. Cincinnati ruled him out on Friday for the Week 15 matchup.​
Concussions present unique challenges when projecting availability. With this marking his second concussion of the season and the Bengals having no chance at the postseason, Higgins may not return at all. However, since this involves a concussion rather than a structural injury, he faces no risk of aggravating something that could affect his 2026 season.​
Higgins either clears the protocol or he does not. Concussions operate in absolute terms where playing through symptoms at reduced capacity is not an option (nor should it be).
Fantasy managers counting on Higgins must hope he returns to limited participation on Wednesday and avoids another downgrade to DNP on Thursday. The standard progression for players in concussion protocol follows an LP-LP-FP pattern. Following that sequence would position Higgins to play if he completes the progression throughout the week.​
Higgins’ Fantasy Football Outlook
Injuries have played a role, but Higgins hasn’t been quite as good this season as he was last year. The Bengals WR2 has only averaged 14.1 fantasy points per game through 12 contests.
MORE:Â Free Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
While Higgins is out, Andrei Iosivas elevates to the WR2 role. However, it’s been Mitchell Tinsley who seems to earn more targets. That puts both in play as desperation fantasy options if Higgins sits again, but neither is a recommended start.
