As Cincinnati Bengals fans keep their hopes high ahead of a massive showdown with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the status of Tee Higgins continues to be the central question hovering over the week.
After appearing “in uniform” at the Bengals’ Monday walkthrough, Higgins took another step Wednesday when head coach Zac Taylor confirmed he will be limited in practice as he continues to move through protocol.
It is the first time Higgins has been scheduled for any level of on-field work since exiting the Bengals’ 26–20 Week 12 loss to the New England Patriots on a cart after a violent hit along the right sideline.
Higgins finished that afternoon with five catches for 31 yards. With Ja’Marr Chase suspended for that game, Higgins carried the entire passing burden. New England tilted coverage in his direction from the opening drive. One forced checkdown turned into a Marcus Jones interception and a 33-yard touchdown return that flipped the game.
Now, Cincinnati finally sees forward movement again. And a chance for one of the AFC’s best WR tandems to retake the field for the most important stretch of the 2025-26 season.
Bengals Offense Proves It Can Still Hang With Anybody
Joe Burrow returned on Thanksgiving night and delivered an impressive 261-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 32–14 win over the Baltimore Ravens , with both scoring throws coming in the second half.
At 4-8, Cincinnati still sits deep in the standings. But with Burrow healthy and Chase back in the mix, even a rotational version of Higgins changes the geometry of the offense.
If Higgins fails to get clearance ahead of Buffalo, the Bengals once again lean heavier on Andrei Iosivas and Mitchell Tinsley to fill the void on the outside. That works in stretches. It does not replace what Higgins gives Burrow on third down or in the red zone.
Updated Timeline for Higgins Ahead of Bills Game
Zac Taylor reiterated Wednesday that Higgins remains in concussion protocol. Clearance still comes down to symptoms and testing. Nothing official has changed. But limited practice work confirms progress instead of stagnation.
The calendar helps. Cincinnati does not play until Sunday, giving Higgins a few more days to continue moving forward instead of rushing through protocol. That matters when Buffalo waits on the other side.
The Bengals also plan to practice outside the rest of the week to prepare for the weather. A low of 18 degrees is forecast for Sunday night in Buffalo. Cold hands test everything for a receiver, especially one returning from a head injury. Timing and confidence become just as important as medical clearance.
From the Bills’ perspective, Higgins’ progression complicates coverage. Buffalo has battled its own injuries on the defensive front and in the secondary. A healthy Higgins immediately prevents defenses from sitting exclusively on Chase. One-on-one leverage shifts back to Cincinnati instead of the coverage.
If Higgins plays, the Bengals’ star offensive trio finally looks whole again for the first time in months. That version of the offense still gives Cincinnati its strongest chance to carry any momentum into December.
And now, for the first time since New England, that door is legitimately open again.
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