Bengals Wide Receiver Misses Second Straight Practice

The Cincinnati Bengals have had an up-and-down first five weeks to the regular season, and no player typifies that more than wide receiver Tee Higgins. The third-year player has yet to practice this week following the team's Week 5 Sunday Night Football loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Looks like Bengals WR Tee Higgins will not practice for a second straight day. Headed to the rehab field.
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 13, 2022

Higgins is rehabbing an ankle injury that cost him all but 10 snaps against the Ravens. His absence hindered the offense for the rest of the night: after scoring 82 points in two games against Baltimore in 2021, the Bengals were held to 16 points in defeat on Sunday Night Football. Higgins personally accounted for 256 receiving yards in last year's two wins.

Higgins has been sensational when available this year, but a pair of injuries have knocked him out in the early portions of two games. In his three healthiest starts, he has hauled in 18 receptions for 288 yards at an impressive 11.1 yards per target.

Joe Burrow goes deep to Tee Higgins for a 59-yard @Bengals touchdown. #RuleTheJungle #MIAvsCIN on Prime Video
Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/Phmgdb9VGl pic.twitter.com/ulalaF5iBu
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2022

Higgins joined the Bengals as their 33rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He immediately rewarded the team with explosive play, compiling 2314 receiving yards and 9.4 yards per target across his 35 appearances. The Bengals paired him with fifth overall pick Ja'Marr Chase last year to form one of the league's deadliest receiving tandems. The two young players combined for an astounding 2546 receiving yards in 2021 and played a huge part in securing the team's Super Bowl berth.

If the Bengals want to get back on track following a frustrating 2-3 start, they'll need to figure out how to better protect Higgins. The wide receiver has already suffered a pair of concussions and an ankle injury across his 193 snaps.