The NFL season is in full swing. As happens every year, injuries are rearing their ugly heads. As fantasy football managers prepare to set Week 13 lineups, it’s important to stay informed on the latest injury news. Tee Higgins missed practice time this week due to injury. What is his current status and outlook for this week?
Is Tee Higgins Playing Week 13?
Higgins left last week’s game against the New England Patriots after taking a hard fall to the turf. The veteran receiver suffered a concussion late in the fourth quarter of Cincinnati’s 26-20 loss at Paycor Stadium.
The injury occurred with just over four minutes remaining in the contest. Higgins attempted to make a one-handed reception on a deep ball down the left sideline from quarterback Joe Flacco. As he came down, he hit the ground hard and appeared to strike the back of his head upon landing.
The scene was alarming. After Higgins hit the turf, he remained motionless for several minutes as coaches and trainers stood over him. CBS analyst Trent Green remarked, “That’s scary,” in response to the incident. Medical personnel eventually rolled him onto his back, and he slowly sat up before being transported off the field on a cart while holding his head.
The Bengals quickly ruled Higgins out for the remainder of the game. Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed after the contest that Higgins had entered the concussion protocol. The injury ended Higgins’ impressive streak of nine consecutive home games with a touchdown reception.
Taylor ruled Higgins out on Monday for Thursday night’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. The announcement came during the coach’s media session, confirming what was widely expected given the short turnaround time between games.
The compressed timeline between Sunday’s injury and Thursday’s game makes it impossible for any player to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol in such a brief window. The league’s concussion protocol requires multiple steps, including symptom monitoring, physical exertion tests, and clearance from both team physicians and independent neurological consultants.
When asked about Higgins’ condition Monday, Taylor declined to provide extensive details. “I don’t want to speak for him. It’s obviously a one-week thing, so that’s where we’ll land,” Taylor stated. The head coach’s comments suggest Higgins could potentially return for Week 14 when the Bengals travel to face the Buffalo Bills on December 7.
The absence of Higgins represents a significant blow to Cincinnati’s receiving corps. He had compiled five catches for 31 yards before the injury against New England. The Bengals were already playing without their top receiver and will now need their remaining pass catchers to step up against a tough Ravens secondary on Thanksgiving night.
Higgins’ Fantasy Football Outlook
Higgins suffered a concussion late in Sunday’s loss to the Patriots and with a short work week, he’s not going to be able to pass all of the protocols in time to play the Thanksgiving Day night cap.
This has been a brutal run out for those who drafted Higgins this season and sitting out a shootout with the Ravens is simply the latest example. The Joe Burrow injury hurt in a big way early in the season and then he gets a game with competent QB play and no Ja’Marr Chase, only to leave early.
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This is poorly timed, but can’t be viewed as a surprise. Higgins logged a full season as a rookie and that’s his only such year on his NFL resume (this will be his 11th missed game over the past three seasons).
Andrei Iosivas led the Bengals in targets (seven) and receiving yards (61) last week and while that’s not really in play this week, he’s the low-end flex play to consider if injuries are giving you a hard time.
— Kyle Soppe, PFSN Fantasy Analyst