Bengals’ Injury Situation Takes Encouraging Turn Before Dolphins Game

The Cincinnati Bengals have a chance to bounce back against the Miami Dolphins this weekend after falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers in back-to-back weeks.

One consistent theme in the Bengals' two losses has been injuries. Guys like Bryan Cook, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins have all missed time. Cook was injured against the Steelers and tried to play against the Jaguars but couldn’t go. Ja’Marr Chase left with a concussion early against Jacksonville and couldn’t return. Tee Higgins had an adductor strain, tried to play late in the game, but couldn’t. 

Where does Cincinnati stand at the moment? 

Tee Higgins

As the week went on, confidence that Higgins would play dropped as he was held out of practice for rehab work on a side field. However, Saturday’s news that the Bengals were elevating safety Russ Yeast from the practice squad, not a receiver, made many confident Higgins and Chase would play. 

Higgins did not practice Wednesday or Thursday before returning to full participation Friday. 

Ja’Marr Chase

Chase left the game last week with a concussion and was quickly ruled out. Early in the week, it felt like a long shot he would play, but he progressed through concussion protocol and is trending toward playing against the Dolphins. 

As mentioned before, Cincinnati’s decision not to promote a receiver from the practice squad signals that they feel good about their receivers, and Higgins and Chase could very well play. 

Bryan Cook

The defense has struggled in multiple ways over the past two weeks, allowing 292 yards to Aaron Rodgers in week three and then having a really bad tackling day against the Jaguars last week. Cook helps in both areas and has quickly become one of Cincinnati’s most important players, as the team has lost both games in which he’s struggled with injuries. 

Cook did not practice on Wednesday, was a limited participant on Thursday, and fully participated on Friday. Whether or not he plays is a big storyline for Cincinnati. 

Jonathan Allen

With a rest and knee injury designation, Allen did not practice Wednesday or Thursday before returning to limited participation on Friday.

Other players with injury designations include Jordan Battle, Swayze Bozeman, Barrett Carter, Kyle Dugger, Dalton Risner, and Colbie Young. 

Young was limited on Wednesday before practicing fully on Thursday. He was then limited in Friday’s practice. Cincinnati will need to be at full force to be fully confident in getting a win, as the Dolphins, despite being 0-4, have some dangerous players that could impact the game.