Breaking: Cincinnati Bengals Season in Jeopardy Amid Bad Injury News for 2 Critical Players
The Cincinnati Bengals dug themselves into a significant disadvantage with their 0-3 start, leaving them with almost no margin for error if they hope to contend for a playoff spot.
If the Bengals had begun the season with a strong performance, they might have been able to weather a few losses due to key injuries as the season progressed. However, with their current situation, any adverse injury news now has the potential to jeopardize their entire season rather than just a single game.
Two key offensive pieces did not practice for the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday
As reported by Ben Baby of ESPN, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. missed practice on Friday. This means both players have not practiced at all this week, a situation that usually raises concerns about their availability for Sunday’s game.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins and OL Orlando Brown not practicing today. Set for a full week of DNP.
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) November 1, 2024
Higgins missed last week’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering a quad injury in practice. Brown, who had previously hurt his calf/lower leg a week before the Eagles game, re-injured himself during that loss.
Orlando Brown Jr.’s presence will be missed as the Cincinnati Bengals will try to thwart Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Although the Bengals’ offensive line has shown significant improvement this season, their depth has become a concern. Veteran tackle Trent Brown has been sidelined for the year, forcing rookie first-round pick Amarius Mims to step in at right tackle.
As a result, Cody Ford, who was initially the fourth tackle on the depth chart, is now next in line. The drop-off in talent from Brown to Ford could be problematic, particularly as they face one of the league’s most formidable pass rushers.
Maxx Crosby has recorded 6.5 sacks this season while remaining a key target for opposing offenses. Pro Football Focus gave Ford an alarmingly low grade of 3.9 when he replaced Brown during the game against the Cleveland Browns.
Crosby’s pressure rate of 11.1% is the lowest of his career, as he is drawing more attention from offenses, yet his 6.5 sacks make up nearly 40% of his team’s total sacks, which ranks as the second-highest rate in the NFL.
The Cincinnati Bengals have struggled without Tee Higgins
The Bengals have struggled significantly without Tee Higgins, going 1-6 in their last seven games without him. Their depth at the wide receiver position is limited, especially with rookie Jermaine Burton not seeing the field.
While Higgins is considered the No. 2 receiver behind Ja’Marr Chase—who leads the league in receiving statistics—his contribution is equally important. Since returning in Week 3, Higgins has led the Bengals in both target share and air yard share, with rates of 28.5% and 39.7%, respectively.
Without Higgins, who poses a deep threat to defenses, opposing teams can focus more resources on containing Chase. Though Burton’s opportunities have been limited, he has made an impact with two explosive plays this season. If the Bengals utilize him, they might find success even in Higgins’s absence; failure to do so could jeopardize their season.
According to an article from MSN, star quarterback Joe Burrow openly supported giving Burton more playing time in his remarks to the press this week. “It was great to see Jermaine (Burton) make a play today. I believe Jermaine is going to be a solid player,” Burrow said. “He keeps getting open, and we’re maintaining that crucial communication between quarterbacks and receivers. I think he performed well today, and those who stepped in for Tee did a good job too.”
If there’s a team the Bengals could potentially defeat despite their struggling offense, it would be the 2-6 Raiders, who recently traded away their best offensive player.