Tee Higgins' Concussion Protocol Affects the Cincinnati Bengals Lineup

For the Cincinnati Bengals, wide receiver Tee Higgins has long been the quiet engine of their passing offense—a 6’4” playmaker who complements Ja’Marr Chase’s speed with size, contested-catch skill, and clutch reliability. But when Higgins entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after a Week 14 hit vs. the Steelers, the Bengals’ lineup unraveled. The protocol’s multi-stage safety checks (rest, aerobic work, team drills, independent clearance) aren’t just a short absence; they’ve forced coaches to rewrite game plans, shuffle depth charts, and lean on unproven backups to fill a void in one of the league’s top passing attacks. Tee Higgins' Concussion Protocol Affects the Cincinnati Bengals Lineup explores how his absence reshapes the offense, the players stepping up, and the fight to keep consistency without a key playmaker.

Tee Higgins' Concussion Protocol Affects the Cincinnati Bengals Lineup begins with the protocol’s timeline— why Higgins’ absence isn’t short-term. The NFL’s concussion process prioritizes safety over schedule, and Higgins’ path has been slow: after Week 14’s hit, he stayed in Stage 2 (aerobic exercise) through Week 15, missing the critical Colts game—a 7-point loss partly tied to thin wide receiver depth. “We follow the protocol to keep Tee safe, even if it hurts us now,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “He’s too vital to rush back.” This timeline has forced lineup tweaks for at least two games, with no guarantee of a playoff return— a big blow for a team fighting for a wildcard spot.

A key impact is Trenton Irwin’s promotion to starter— a backup tasked with filling a star’s shoes. Irwin, a 5-year vet who’s mostly been rotational, became an offensive focal point vs. the Colts: 8 targets, 5 catches for 62 yards, but also a costly third-down drop that killed a game-tying drive. His skill set differs sharply from Higgins— at 6’0”, he relies on route precision, not size— so the Bengals can’t run the same plays. “Trenton’s good, but he’s not Tee,” QB Joe Burrow said. “We’ve shifted to more quick slants, fewer deep fades where Tee would outmuscle corners.” This makes the offense more predictable; defenses now focus on Chase and Irwin, with fewer downfield threats.

Tee Higgins' Concussion Protocol Affects the Cincinnati Bengals Lineup also includes scheme shifts to replace size— leaning on tight ends for the Cincinnati Bengals. With Higgins out, the Bengals turned to tight ends Hayden Hurst (6’5”) and Drew Sample to replicate his red-zone and contested-catch production. vs. the Colts, Hurst saw 7 red-zone targets (up from 2 per game) and 2 touchdowns, while Sample blocked to open space for Chase and Irwin. But the shift limits flexibility: tight ends can’t pass-block as often, leaving Burrow more vulnerable to sacks. “We’re asking tight ends to do double duty,” Taylor explained. “Block, catch, fill Tee’s role— it’s a lot, but they’ve stepped up.” For the Cincinnati Bengals, this is a short-term fix, not sustainable against teams like the Ravens (strong tight end coverage) in Week 16.

Another challenge is increased pressure on Ja’Marr Chase— defenses keying on the Bengals’ only elite receiver. Without Higgins, defenses no longer split focus; they double-team Chase (corner shadow + safety help) on 65% of snaps vs. the Colts (up from 40% season average), limiting him to 4 catches for 49 yards— his lowest output since Week 3. The pressure led to turnovers too: Burrow threw an interception when forcing a pass to Irwin instead of checking down. “Double-teaming Chase changes everything,” OC Brian Callahan said. “We motion him or use him as a decoy, but it’s not the same as Tee drawing coverage.” For the Cincinnati Bengals, this makes the offense less dynamic— no more “two-headed monster” to keep defenses off balance.

A final impact is testing depth— exposing gaps in the Bengals’ wide receiver room for the Cincinnati Bengals. Beyond Chase and Irwin, depth is thin: third-stringer Andrei Iosivas (a rookie with 12 catches) played 40% of snaps vs. the Colts but missed two route assignments, while fourth-stringer Stanley Morgan Jr. was inactive. “Depth was a question before Tee got hurt— now it’s a problem,” Taylor admitted. “We’re asking rookies and practice-squad guys to play meaningful snaps in a playoff race.” For the Cincinnati Bengals, this is a future warning too: if Higgins stays out, they may sign a free-agent receiver, disrupting the salary cap and lineup further.

Tee Higgins' Concussion Protocol Affects the Cincinnati Bengals Lineup wraps up with playoff implications. The Bengals are sixth in the AFC wildcard race, but a tough remaining schedule (Ravens, Chiefs) means they can’t afford more losses from lineup chaos. Higgins’ return is critical— without him, the offense lacks balance to compete with elites. Even if he’s back in Week 16, lingering concussion symptoms (fatigue, dizziness) could hurt his play. “Tee’s our X-factor,” Burrow said. “We can win one or two games without him, but not a playoff run.” For the Cincinnati Bengals, Higgins’ protocol is more than a setback—it’s a test of resilience. Tee Higgins' Concussion Protocol Affects the Cincinnati Bengals Lineup ultimately shows: even top teams are vulnerable when key players go down— and the Bengals are learning that the hard way.