Tag: Tee Higgins

Commanders vs. Bengals: 4 causes for concern in Week 3

We identify four reasons to be concerned for the Commanders in Week 3 at Cincinnati.

What do the Washington Commanders need to do to pull off an upset of the Cincinnati Bengals in the Week 3 edition of Monday Night Football?

The Commanders opened as 7.5-point underdogs against the winless Bengals for Monday’s game at Paycor Stadium. Washington is coming off its first win, a 21-18 victory over the New York Giants.

The Bengals return home after suffering an upset loss to the Patriots in Week 1. Cincinnati played much better last week but lost to the defending world champion Kansas City Chiefs on a field goal as time expired.

We gave four reasons why the Commanders should be optimistic. Here are four causes for concern in Week 3.

The Bengals are winless

Cincinnati can’t afford to go 0-3 and believe it still has a chance to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Sure, it can happen, but the odds would be against the Bengals. Washington is heading into a Monday night game on the road against an angry and motivated Cincinnati team that feels it cannot lose.

This is a tough situation for the Commanders. The Bengals are the more talented team with a lot to lose. Washington has its work cut out on Monday night.

Tee Higgins is back

The Commanders have struggled to defend quality receivers. In Week 1, Washington had no answers for the Tampa Bay duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Last week, Giants’ rookie Malik Nabers had 18 targets and finished with 127 receiving yards.

This week, Washington faces off against Ja’Marr Chase, who will soon be the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver. Joining him will be Tee Higgins, who returns after missing the first two games. Higgins is playing on the franchise tag this season and is poised for a huge year heading into free agency.

The Bengals also have Andre Iosivas, who caught two touchdowns against the Chiefs last week. Washington’s secondary issues could be further exposed against Joe Burrow and Cincinnati’s elite wide receivers.

Washington’s passing game

There are multiple concerns here. First, the Commanders’ passing game hasn’t taken off but did show signs of life in the second half of last week’s win. When Jayden Daniels started throwing down the field instead of only on screens, Washington had more success in the passing game.

The Bengals held Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes to only 151 passing yards last week and intercepted him twice. For a passing game looking for success with a rookie quarterback, that’s concerning heading into Monday night.

Trey Hendrickson

The Bengals’ star doesn’t get the respect he deserves as one of the NFL’s best pass rushers. Hendrickson has recorded at least 13.5 sacks in three of the last four seasons and sacked Mahomes twice last week.

Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has purposely called an offense that will have Daniels get rid of the ball quickly due to concerns at offensive tackle. Kingsbury must find a balance here. Washington’s offensive tackles cannot block Hendrickson one-on-one all night, but the Commanders must also throw the ball downfield.

Regardless of the game plan, Washington can’t have Daniels sitting in the pocket taking too many hits.

Bengals star WR Tee Higgins says he’s ready to go vs. Commanders

Bengals star Tee Higgins says he’s ready to go for Monday night vs. Commanders.

The Washington Commanders have their work cut out on Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Commanders must find a way to get pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and cover wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

Washington’s job will likely be even more difficult on Monday as wide receiver Tee Higgins says he’s returning to action against the Commanders.

Higgins, the fifth-year wide receiver who has missed the first two games with a hamstring injury, has participated in practice throughout the week.

“I feel great,” Higgins said Friday via ESPN. “Obviously, unfortunate with the injury, sat out the first two weeks but finally ready to get my feet wet this season and ready to go.”

With Higgins out, the Bengals relied on wide receiver Andrei Iosivas and tight end Mike Gesicki to help Chase in the passing game. Gesicki is tied with Chase for the team lead in receptions and leads the team in receiving yards.

The 6-foot-4 Higgins has gone over 1,000 yards receiving in three of his first four NFL seasons and is playing this season on the franchise tag.

Tee Higgins, Sheldon Rankins injury updates ahead of Week 3 vs. Commanders

Injury updates on two key Bengals players before they take on the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins keeps pacing toward a return from a hamstring injury that cost him the first two games of the season.

The same doesn’t seem to apply to defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins, though.

Higgins and Rankins were the big focal points of Friday’s injury report, the second of the week before the team takes on the Washington Commanders on Monday night.

There, Higgins again worked “limited” like the day prior. Rankins was out of practice yet again.

While the wideout room has received some unexpected help from Jermaine Burton and now seems ready to get Higgins back, the same doesn’t apply to the defensive line.

With B.J. Hill also not practicing on Friday after a hamstring injury, like Rankins, knocked him out of the Week 2 game, the Bengals had to go sign 34-year-old free agent Lawrence Guy for help.

Barring something unexpected, it will be Guy and names like Zach Carter and Jay Tufele tasked with keeping Washington’s running game in check up the middle.

Update: Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Saturday that Higgins will play against the Commanders while Rankins will be out, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

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.

https://twitter.com/FOX19Joe/status/1836822106761253195

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.

Tee Higgins injury updates ahead of Week 3 vs. Commanders

The latest on the injury status of Tee Higgins before the primetime game.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

It sure feels like the Cincinnati Bengals are inching closer to the return of star wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Higgins, who missed the first two games of the season due to a hamstring injury, was seen on the field in Kansas City doing his usual pre-game warmups before appearing on the team’s inactives list.

Exiting Week 2, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had some positive comments about the pacing of Higgins’ return.

“I think this extra day really helps this week,” Taylor said, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “I don’t want to make any proclamations on where he’ll be Monday night, but I feel like it’s trending in a positive direction.”

Higgins’ latest in a long line of hamstring injuries came at an odd time right before Week 1, so much so he felt the need to defend himself over the latest hiccup.

While hamstring injuries are notoriously fickle and especially for Higgins, it seems, this progress and the extra day before a Monday night game seems to point to a return.

In the interim, the Bengals have leaned on Ja’Marr Chase, a healthy dose of tight ends and one major splash play from rookie Jermaine Burton.

Update: Higgins returned to practice Thursday, the first session before Monday night’s game.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Bengals WR Tee Higgins updates his injury status after strange saga

Bengals WR Tee Higgins had some things to say about his latest hamstring injury.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins didn’t need to say that he isn’t faking an injury, yet he did anyway this week before Week 2.

Higgins, who suddenly came up with a hamstring injury before the season opener, addressed some of the fake narratives that have popped up online.

“I just don’t understand why fans think I’m faking an injury, when for me to get an extension for a contract, the deadline is over,” Higgins said, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby. “I just don’t understand why they think I’m faking an injury. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

The “faking an injury” narrative, though, didn’t really need addressing, honestly. Most of those accusations were from social media accounts attempting to farm engagement or otherwise.

That said, things were admittedly a little strange before Week 1 when Higgins had interviews with reporters and said he was good to go, only to miss the opener.

“I prepare myself to go out here and dominate, start of Week 1,” Higgins said, per Baby. “Unfortunately, four days before the game, I have a hamstring tweak that I didn’t think was as bad, so I made the comments I did after [practice].

It doesn’t benefit Higgins to sit out like this. He’s not eligible for an extension now that the July 15 extension has passed and every game he misses is an increasingly big red flag to teams that might have an interest in him on the free-agent market next summer.

Higgins, after all, continues to steadily miss time as a pro due to recurring hamstring issues. In what is effectively a contract year, he has now missed at least two games already.

Were this anything other than a natural injury, though, Higgins wouldn’t have risked his body all summer in training camp while on the franchise tag, too.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins responds to ‘faking’ injury speculation

Higgins responds to the speculation and rumors.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has addressed recent rumors surrounding his absence from practice, insisting that his hamstring injury has nothing to do with his contract situation. Speaking to ESPN on Thursday, Higgins expressed confusion over the narrative that he might be exaggerating the issue. “I don’t get why fans think I’m faking it, especially when the contract extension deadline is long gone,” Higgins said. The deadline he referenced was July 15, the cutoff for players on the franchise tag to negotiate a long-term deal. “It just doesn’t make sense to me,” he added.

Higgins injured his hamstring during a practice on September 5, just days before the Bengals’ season opener against the New England Patriots. Initially, Higgins felt positive about his condition and was confident he’d be ready to play. “I felt amazing and thought I was good to go for Week 1,” Higgins said. However, after further evaluation, the injury proved more significant than he initially realized, leading to his absence in the 16-10 loss to the Patriots. Higgins hasn’t practiced since and remains focused on his recovery.

The fifth-year wide receiver also emphasized his desire to return at full strength rather than risk further injury by rushing back onto the field. “I want to give my team 100% of Tee Higgins, not just 50% to be out there,” he explained. His commitment to being fully prepared echoes the sentiment he shared earlier in training camp when he signed his franchise tag, prioritizing his performance for the upcoming season.

Despite missing time, Higgins has the full support of his teammates and coaching staff. Bengals left guard Cordell Volson praised his work ethic, stating, “The way Tee approaches his work is really special. He’s a player who always gives it his all.” Head coach Zac Taylor has described Higgins’ recovery as day-to-day, with no definitive timetable for his return.

Higgins, who had 656 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 12 games last season, is a vital part of Cincinnati’s offense. With his focus set on making an impact, he’s determined to come back stronger and provide the Bengals with the level of play they’ve come to expect from him.

Logan Wilson, Tee Higgins injury updates for Week 2 vs. Chiefs

The latest on injured Bengals stars before Week 2 against the Chiefs.

Cincinnati Bengals stars Logan Wilson and Tee Higgins were the focal point of the injury report in the early buildup to the team’s Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Thursday, Wilson got back to practice after missing the first session of the week and was “limited” on the injury report. That should signal that he’s good to go.

Wilson was an unexpected DNP on Wednesday with what the team listed as a knee injury.

The outlook on Higgins has been far more complicated. His strong summer, despite the franchise tag, came to a screeching halt halfway through the prep for Week 1 due to another hamstring injury. He’s now logged two missed practices in street clothes through Thursday.

Given the fickle nature of those, one insider has already noted to expect Higgins not to suit up against the Chiefs.

Elsewhere on Thursday’s report, B.J. Hill was upgraded to full and first-rounder Amarius Mims remained limited.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Tee Higgins injury update for Week 2 ahead of showdown vs. Chiefs

An injury update on Bengals WR Tee Higgins.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has been the focal point of the team’s injury list all week before the showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ahead of the first injury report of the week, Higgins didn’t practice on Wednesday.

Higgins had a sudden hamstring injury that caused him to outright miss the Week 1 loss against the New England Patriots. That, after a normal summer where he appeared on track for a big franchise-tagged season.

After the loss to the Patriots, an NFL insider reported that things didn’t look good for Higgins’ status against the Chiefs.

That certainly tracked with Higgins’ past injury history, which has been marred with hamstring issues since he entered the league.

Higgins’ absence, combined with obvious rust from Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, played a big role in the putrid 10-point showing in an upset loss at home. If Higgins can’t play in Kansas City, the Bengals will be heavily counting on those issues being fixed, as well as big showings from the likes of Andrei Iosivas and tight end Mike Gesicki.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Trent McDuffie recaps Little Caesars ‘Love Kitchen’ event, discusses Chiefs’ gameplan for Bengals

Kansas City #Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie recaps Little Caesars ‘Love Kitchen’ event, discusses gameplan vs. #Bengals w/ @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense excelled in its Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, due in no small part to the exceptional play of cornerback Trent McDuffie.

After the unit knocked off Lamar Jackson to start the 2024 regular season, critics are no longer questioning the effectiveness of Kansas City’s secondary after the departure of L’Jarius Sneed earlier this year.

McDuffie has continued to improve each game he plays, further solidifying his place at the summit of the league’s best cornerbacks lists.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to the All-Pro cornerback after McDuffie hosted the Little Caesars’ Love Kitchen’ event at Arrowhead Stadium. He recapped the fantastic event with Little Caesars, the NFL’s Official Pizza Sponsor, spreading love to Kansas City and looking ahead to Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Man, it was awesome,” McDuffie said. “I kept saying my favorite thing was the actual ‘Love Kitchen,’ knowing that they served over 4 million families was honestly inspiring to me. The event overall was dope, the fans that were out here, the military families, signing autographs, taking pictures, they had music playing right in front of the stadium, and it was just an overall positive atmosphere.”

https://twitter.com/McKenzieMNelson/status/1832459458322010305

The Cincinnati Bengals will visit Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday with questions about the availability of their star wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. McDuffie doesn’t believe this will affect the Chiefs’ game plan or focus heading into Week 2 against their AFC rival.

“I don’t know if it’s going to change the overall game plan,” McDuffie explained. “Still, I think it definitely makes the preparation a little bit more tedious, just because now you have to account for backup receivers and maybe play backup tight ends and maybe different personnel. But the overall game plan and how you approach the game, I’m thinking both of them are going to play, and we’re going to have a battle and a challenge, and it’s going to be a really good game on Sunday.”

For more information on Little Caesars, the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL, log on to the website littlecaesars.com