The Bengals came up short against the Patriots last Sunday, in part due to an injury sustained by wide receiver Tee Higgins, who, after a hard hit during an attempt to catch a pass, was taken off the field and later confirmed to be in concussion protocol, as reported by ESPN. Higgins' concussion added to the team's offensive struggles, they were already missing Ja'Marr Chase, suspended due to a spitting incident, leaving quarterback Joe Flacco, who also dealt with a dislocated index finger but managed to return to play, without his top options in what became a 26-20 defeat to New England.
With the additional burden of trying to operate without their leading receivers, the Bengals' loss painted a grim picture for their season's prospects, their record now at 3-8, making it the team's fourth consecutive loss and their eighth in the last nine games, as their quarterback Joe Flacco completed 61.6% of his passes for 1,636 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions over those challenging six games, details revealed by ESPN.
The incident, which took place in the game's last quarter, was a significant blow to Cincinnati's game plan—Higgins finished with five catches for 31 yards before concussion concerns pulled him out of play, especially with a swift turnaround time for recovery before their next game against the Ravens on Thanksgiving night, the likelihood of his participation in which seems slim based on statements from NBC Sports.
This injury could lead to lasting implications for the Bengals, as they look ahead to their next matchup without a key player; they rely on the depth of their roster to produce a much-needed win following a frustrating string of losses and with playoffs hopes fading and their coach Zac Taylor's sentiment echoing the teams need to "find a way to win so we can remember what that feels like," told ESPN, they will face an uphill battle as the regular season advances.
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