Bengals star WR Tee Higgins could make season debut vs. Commanders

The Bengals could get a big piece of their offense back on Monday night.

The Cincinnati Bengals could get a significant piece of their offense back for Week 3’s showdown with the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football.

Fifth-year wide receiver Tee Higgins returned to practice on Thursday and was listed as limited on Cincinnati’s first injury report of the week. Higgins worked out on the field ahead of the Bengals’ Week 3 game at Kansas City. He has dealt with a hamstring injury since Sept. 5.

A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Higgins quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s best young wide receivers but has often been overshadowed by Ja’Marr Chase. Chase and Higgins comprise the NFL’s best starting receiver duo when fully healthy.

Here’s Higgins at Thursday’s practice.

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The Commanders will likely be without cornerback Emmanuel Forbes for the second consecutive week. Veterans Michael Davis and Noah Igbinoghene filled in for Forbes last week. Davis struggled, while Igbinoghene played well. Washington’s other starting cornerback, Benjamin St-Juste, was terrific in Week 2.

Regardless of who lines up for the Commanders at cornerback, they’ll have a tough time defending Cincinnati’s trio of wideouts that includes Chase, Higgins (if he plays), and Andre Iosivas.

Higgins, who is playing on the franchise tag in 2024, has 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first four NFL seasons.