The Bengals could be without one of their top targets in the passing game on Sunday against the Steelers. Wide receiver Tee Higgins has missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury, and it does not appear like he will be back this week, either. Higgins did not practice for a second straight day after some encouraging words from head coach Zac Taylor about his potential inclusion this week.
Instead, it appears that Higgins is heading for another week where he will not play. Coming into the season, Higgins missed just two games with injuries but has now missed three games with several injuries. Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd will pick up the slack for the Bengals, with Andrei Iosivas and Trenton Irwin likely filling in as capable backups. That will add to the injuries on the offense for the Bengals, who will already be without quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow will miss the rest of the 2023 season after tearing a ligament in his wrist. Cincinnati’s first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of LSU, Burrow won NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2021 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022. Burrow had completed 244 of 365 passes for 2,309 yards, 15 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 91.0 passer rating before the injury this season. He dealt with a calf injury from training camp that limited him in the early going of 2023. Burrow had a 100.8 passer rating in 2022 and a 108.3 rating in 2021, as the Bengals made it all the way to the Super Bowl.
With Burrow out, the Bengals will likely turn to Jake Browning, who is the only other quarterback on their roster. The 27-year-old has been in the NFL since 2019 but appeared in his second game and completed his first career pass in relief of Burrow on Thursday.
Browning finished by completing 8 of 14 for 68 yards and a garbage-time touchdown pass to Jamar Chase. He was sacked three times and ran four times for 40 yards. The Steelers are preparing for those possibilities.