Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Tee Higgins Will Play In Week 16
The playoff ship has sailed for Cincinnati. The Bengals are officially eliminated, looking ahead to the offseason, and arguably, nobody would have blamed them for putting their stars in bubble wrap until next September. But this is football, not a spreadsheet. And despite the standings, Tee Higgins is suiting up.
According to a Sunday morning report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Higgins has officially cleared concussion protocol and is “good to go” against the Miami Dolphins. The team listed him as questionable on Friday and wanted to see how he woke up this morning before giving the green light. Considering this was his second concussion in just three weeks, plenty of fans probably expected him to sit this one out.
Why Higgins Playing Matters (Beyond the Box Score)
Higgins has been the engine in the red zone, leading the team with nine touchdowns through 12 games in 2025. With Joe Burrow still slinging the rock, having his favorite big-bodied target back on the field changes the entire complexion of the offense.
But there’s a human element here that goes beyond X’s and O’s. While he was sidelined from practice, Higgins wasn’t just sitting in a dark room. He spent his time off the field playing Santa Claus. Just yesterday, he was at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati, handing out bikes to kids.
The best part? Higgins admitted he didn’t even know how to ride a bike when he was that age. “It was just putting a smile on my face from ear to ear,” he said. Now, less than 24 hours later, he’s strapping on the helmet to try and spoil the Dolphins’ day. That is the kind of energy you want from a franchise cornerstone.
Injury Report: Who Else Joins Higgins?
While having number 85 back is a massive boost, the Bengals aren’t exactly at full strength. The training room is still seeing plenty of traffic.
- Joseph Ossai (DE): Out (Ankle)
- Noah Fant (TE): Out (Ankle)
- Charlie Jones (WR): Out (Ankle)
- Kris Jenkins Jr. (DT): Placed on IR
However, the defense is getting a little help. Rookie Defensive End Shemar Stewart, a former first-round pick, has been activated from injured reserve. It will be interesting to see if he can generate some pressure on Miami’s Quinn Ewers, who is getting the nod at QB for the Dolphins.
What To Expect From Higgins Today
With Ja’Marr Chase drawing double teams and the Dolphins’ secondary looking for answers, expect Burrow to look for Higgins early and often. There’s a certain pride in finishing the season strong, and a productive Week 16 could be exactly what this offense needs to build momentum for 2026.
Miami is also out of the playoff hunt, making this a pure “pride game.” But if you think Higgins came back from a concussion just to jog through routes, you haven’t been watching.
