Bengals Receive Concerning Injury Update on Key Playmaker

After shockingly falling to the New England Patriots in Week 1, the Cincinnati Bengals can't afford to focus on the loss. All hands must be on deck as the Bengals prepare for a tough test when they face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on the road in Week 2.

If Cincinnati wants to defeat Kansas City, the offense must have a better performance. Part of the reason why the Bengals only mustered 10 points against the Patriots is because they were missing wide receiver Tee Higgins , who was inactive due to a hamstring injury.

While Higgins' fans were hoping for a speedy recovery so that he could play in Week 2, that might not be the case judging by NFL insider Adam Schefter's latest report.

"[Tee Higgins] was not spotted practicing today ahead of Sunday’s game," Schefter reported on Wednesday afternoon.

During Wednesday's practice, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told ESPN's Ben Baby that Higgins is "making strides" in his recovery. Having said that, it's clear that the veteran receiver hasn't progressed enough to rejoin his teammates on the practice field.

Hamstring injuries can nag depending on the severity, so it isn't shocking to see the Bengals being extra cautious with Higgins. The ex-Clemson WR also battled a hamstring issue throughout the 2023 season, which played a role in his missing a career-high five games.

The Bengals are a talented team, however, it's clear that they're better when Higgins is healthy. Cincinnati only went 2-3 in the five games that he missed last season, further highlighting his importance in Taylor's lineup.

Higgins has been a treat to watch ever since the Bengals drafted him 33rd overall in 2020. He's gone on to play 58 games in a Cincinnati jersey, catching 257-of-403 passes (63.8 percent) for 3,684 receiving yards and 24 touchdown catches.