The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a tough loss to the New England Patriots in Week 12. With a chance to win near the end, the Bengals couldn't pull through, putting their playoff hopes in major jeopardy.
But the hits kept coming, as late in the game, Tee Higgins went down on a deep pass and didn't return to the game. While there were initial concerns, a final injury update wasn't fully known until Adam Schefter of ESPN shared the bad news Monday morning.
According to Schefter, Higgins is in the concussion protocol. This is bad news on its own, but with the Week 13 matchup on Thanksgiving Night, just four days after this injury for Higgins, it likely means the star Bengals wide receiver will miss Week 13.
Bengals get a brutal injury update on Tee Higgins after Week 12
The early Monday morning injury update from Schefter was short, but impactful. "Bengals WR Tee Higgins is in concussion protocol," Schefter reports.
Typically, players in concussion protocol will miss one week of play, even if the game is on a Sunday. For Higgins, he would need to not only beat the odds and get ready in short order, but do so on a short week.
This report from Schefter came well after the game was over, but it's a brutal update for one of the Bengals' top wide receivers.
Ja'Marr Chase is coming back from his one-game suspension for spitting on Jalen Rams ey of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Bengals' wide receiver room will likely be short-staffed once again.
More: How Ja'Marr Chase's suspension can cost Bengals' WR over $500,000
Joe Burrow is also slated to return, but unfortunately, it's looking like his return on Thanksgiving Night, barring any unforeseen setbacks, will be without Higgins.
In the Week 12 loss, Higgins had five receptions on six targets for 31 yards and no touchdowns. On the season, he has 40 receptions for 575 yards and seven touchdowns, and his scoreless Week 12 outing broke a four-game touchdown streak.
If Higgins doesn't quickly get through the NFL's concussion protocol, he's likely to miss the Bengals' Week 13 matchup against the Ravens. In the game that could decide the Bengals' season, Cincinnati is likely down one of its best offensive playmakers.
More Bengals News:
- Bengals Ja'Marr Chase to sit out one game, as NFL will reportedly uphold his suspension
- Ja'Marr Chase suspension: Why spitting incident with Jalen Ramsey led to one-game ban
- Bengals' defense graded as worst in NFL history through 10 games since 1978
- Bengals get brutal injury update on second-round standout defender