Ja’Marr Chase has learned his lesson from Spitgate. Burrow is back from surgery and slick as ever.
And now, with Tee Higgins also expected back from his concussion for this Sunday’s season-defining Week 14 matchup with the Buffalo Bills, the Holy Trinity of southwestern Ohio is finally intact once again.
Higgins missed the Cincinnati Bengals' Week 13 triumph on Thanksgiving during Burrow’s big return. Reports are optimistic that he will not miss a second with the head injury, however.
And don’t look now but the Bengals, who are 4-8 and somehow still in the thick of things in the wonky AFC/AFC North playoff race, are getting healthy right at the most opportune time.
Tee Higgins’ return to health marks a major milestone for the Bengals
The Bengals are as healthy as they have been all season. The offensive line has been chugging along well all year, but that triumvirate of Burrow-Chase-Higgins has been in and out.
To go on a quick tangent: the Bengals’ Week 1 starting offensive line has actually been intact for nearly the entire season. They are allowing a 5.2 sack percentage, ninth-best in the NFL, and have given up just 25 sacks on the year, 11th-fewest in the league.
Funny thing, how groups play that much better when they have the time to build chemistry with one another. They are on track for their fewest sacks allowed since 2015 and lowest sack percentage since 2014.
With that offensive line serving as a reliable backbone for the first time in a decade, it’s been the Burrow-Higgins absences keeping this offense from getting back to 100 percent.
But it will be just that this week—and for the first time since Week 1, per Bengals beat writer Paul Dehner Jr.
“With Tee Higgins' likely return (concussion), the #Bengals should have all their offensive starters and 22/25 (O/D/Specialists) from the season opener available to them on Sunday. Only Logan Wilson (Dallas), Cam Taylor-Britt (foot) and Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) are not.”
It’s not just the offense that is convalescing at the perfect time ahead of the holiday season, but the defense too. Trey Hendrickson continues to be missed, though he’s certainly trying everything he can to get back.
But still, 22/25 Week 1 starters being available for a crucial December game is a feat to behold in this day and age in the NFL.
With all that good health going around, the Bengals have all the more reason to finish strong and give the people an exciting race after a very frustrating autumn in the Cincinnati jungle.