It’s an absolute gut punch for the Bengals, with their top two wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, both missing Wednesday’s practice. This isn’t just a minor setback, either; both players were injured in Sunday’s tough loss to the Jaguars, leaving the team with a seriously depleted pass-catching corps.
The Star Wideouts Are Sidelined
This is the kind of news that just makes you groan. Ja’Marr Chase is dealing with a concussion, which kept him to a mere 15 snaps out of 76 on Sunday. Think about that, their game-wrecker barely saw the field. And Tee Higgins? He’s battling both a groin and neck issue. He managed 60 snaps against the Jags, but clearly, he’s not right. The real kicker here is the immediate impact: with Chase and Higgins out, the Bengals were left with only three healthy wide receivers on their game-day roster by the end of that Jaguars game. That’s a massive problem for any offense, let alone one that relies on its star power.
More Injury Woes Piling Up
It’s not just the receiving game taking a hit. The injury report from Wednesday’s practice was a long one. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was out, managing a knee issue alongside a scheduled rest day. Linebacker Swayze Bozeman missed with a groin injury. On the backend, safety Bryan Cook was out with an ankle problem, and safety Kyle Dugger was sidelined by a quad injury. These are key defensive pieces!
The limited participants list was no picnic either. Safety Jordan Battle is nursing a hamstring. Linebacker Barrett Carter has an ankle issue. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II is dealing with a wrist problem. Offensive guard Dalton Risner has a knee injury, and wide receiver Colbie Young, another receiver hit, is also battling a knee issue. The only positive note was defensive tackle B.J. Hill, who was a full participant despite an Achilles issue. You can see the pain, right? When this many guys are dinged up, it really impacts the whole team.
This is a real test of depth for the Bengals, especially on offense. Losing your top two wide receivers for any length of time is a huge hurdle. They’re gonna need some serious grit and creativity to move the ball if Chase and Higgins are out for long.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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