The Cincinnati Bengals dropped a 22-17 decision to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and fell to 2-2, then learned star wide receiver Tee Higgins will miss considerable time with an adductor injury suffered late in the game.
Higgins went down in the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium after carrying a heavy load once Ja’Marr Chase exited. Team officials confirmed the adductor issue afterward, and Higgins was unable to finish the contest despite trying to return.
ESPN’s Ben Baby reported the details: “Bengals WR Tee Higgins suffered an adductor injury late in the loss to JAX. Tried to give it a go late but couldn’t.”
Physical therapist Jeff Mueller assessed the setback on social media: “Groin strain for Tee Higgins. Depending on severity, could be 2-3 weeks missed. Tough to play through them for WRs.”
Head coach Zac Taylor said Higgins recognized the situation and attempted to stay involved.
“He saw the bind we were in and tried to help us,” Taylor said.
Higgins managed only one snap after the injury before trainers shut him down.
Before the setback, Higgins led Cincinnati with 11 receptions for 157 yards on 16 targets. That production came almost entirely after Chase left in the first half. Chase finished with three catches for 27 yards and was ruled out at the start of the third quarter with a concussion.
Chase was injured on a play in which Jaguars linebacker Ventrell Miller delivered a late hit while cornerback Jarrian Jones was already making the tackle and twisting Chase’s facemask. The Bengals had already been without safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger, both ruled out from Week 3 injuries.
Joe Burrow completed 39 of 54 passes for 428 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. One interception was returned for a Jacksonville score, and the other came in the red zone. The Bengals managed just 23 rushing yards on 15 attempts.
Cincinnati drove to the Jacksonville 21 with less than two minutes remaining but turned the ball over on downs. Chase Brown was stopped a yard short on a fourth-and-10 catch, ending the final possession.
Trevor Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown as the Jaguars improved to 3-1. Cam Little added three field goals, and Chris Rodriguez scored on a 25-yard run.
Bengals Wire’s Chris Roling wrote that the club had no excuses for the result.
“Every team deals with injuries. Yes, the Bengals would have loved to have Bryan Cook at safety and to not lose Chase. But this was a perfectly winnable game with big mistakes from the expected places, and the not-so-expected places.”
The defense held Jacksonville to 323 total yards but struggled to get off the field late and continued to miss tackles. Jordan Battle led the team in that category, including an open-field miss on third-and-18 early in the first quarter.
Cincinnati has now lost two straight after opening 2-0. Further evaluation of Higgins’ adductor is expected in the coming days, with the club already thin at wide receiver.
