Tee Higgins Injury Update: What We Know About the Bengals WR’s Availability in Week 3

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins returned to practice today in his latest progression from a hamstring injury.

Higgins hasn’t practiced since Sept. 5, when he injured the hamstring in the Thursday session before the season opener against the New England Patriots. He was on the field doing rehab work last week, and Sunday, at Kansas City, Higgins was running routes on the field prior to the team’s 26-25 loss to the Chiefs.

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Asked what to make of Higgins’ pre-game workout, head coach Zac Taylor said it meant he wants to do everything possible to get himself ready to play.

Whether Higgins will play Monday night against the Washington Commanders will depend on how the hamstring responds this week in practice. But barring any setbacks, he seems to be on pace to make his season debut.

Other than Higgins himself, no one will be happier to see him back in uniform and running routes than teammate Ja’Marr Chase, who has been shrouded and clouded by double teams against the Patriots and Chiefs.

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“Tee is a top player in this league,” Taylor said. “So that makes every personnel grouping better when he’s in it. So him and Ja’Marr obviously are two guys that draw a lot of attention singularly. So when you’ve got them on the field together, they’re certainly good assets to have.”

The player who could feel the biggest impact from a Higgins return could be Andrei Iosivas.

Last week’s game at Kansas City had the second-highest percentage of 12 personnel in the Taylor era, and Week 1 against New England was fifth.

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The more sets the Bengals run with two tight ends, the less Iosivas will see the field once Higgins returns — especially with tight end Mike Gesicki playing mostly in the slot and emerging as a go-to target for Burrow.

Higgins and the rest of the receivers were not doing much during the portion of practice open to the media. The punt units were working on one field, and the quarterbacks were working on mechanics on the other, with the receivers who don’t play special teams (Higgins, Chase, Iosivas) standing between the field watching.

The Bengals listed Higgins as a limited participant.

Also returning to the practice today was rookie defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, who had surgery on his right thumb Sept. 6. Jenkins missed the first two games but is expected to play Sunday with his right hand heavily wrapped.

Kris Jenkins practicing with his hand wrapped/clubbed. pic.twitter.com/9hCuvsHRmQ

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) September 19, 2024

Jenkins was listed as a limited participant.

The Bengals have been decimated at defensive tackle with fellow rookie McKinnley Jackson on injured reserve and out at least two more games, while starters B.J. Hill and Sheldon Rankins left Sunday’s game with hamstring injuries.

Taylor did not have an updated timeline for them, although Hill was on the rehab field during practice. Rankins was not out there during the portion open to the media.

There also were a couple of new additions to the injury report, with safety Vonn Bell leaving practice early due to a back injury and tight end Mike Gesicki (calf) going limited.

Offensive tackle Amarius Mimis (pectoral) also was limited again. He hasn’t been a full participant in practice since before suffering the injury in the preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 10.

Tight end Tanner Hudson also missed practice with a knee injury suffered in the season-opening loss to the Patriots. Hudson was active for the Kansas City game, but only because he is the emergency long snapper. He did not play a single snap in the game.