Just when you thought the rollercoaster ride of the 2025 season couldn’t get any more nauseating after that blown lead against Buffalo, the football gods decided to kick the Bengals while they’re down. Wide Receiver Higgins has been ruled out for Sunday’s divisional grudge match against the Baltimore Ravens.
A Scary Trend For Higgins
This isn’t just a “rest week.” This is painful déjà vu. Higgins is back in the concussion protocol, marking the second time in just three weeks he’s dealing with a head injury. He missed the Thanksgiving game, fought his way back to clear protocol, and absolutely torched the Bills last week—six catches, 92 yards, and two touchdowns. He looked like the dominant force Cincinnati paid $115 million to keep.
But the cost of that performance was high. Seeing a player enter the protocol twice in such a short window is concerning, not just for the box score, but for the human being inside the helmet. At 4-9, with the playoffs looking like a mathematical miracle rather than a realistic goal, the Bengals are doing the right thing here. There is absolutely no reason to risk Higgins’ long-term health for a Week 15 game that might not matter in the grand scheme of things.
Burrow’s Mood Ring Is Turning Dark
You have to feel for Joe Burrow. The man is already having a bit of an existential crisis in front of the microphones. When your franchise quarterback is dropping quotes like, “If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for?” you know the vibes in the locker room aren’t exactly electric.
Taking Higgins off the field removes Burrow’s safety valve. Sure, Ja’Marr Chase is still out there being a superhero, and Chase was quick to defend his QB’s attitude to the press, but defenses can roll coverage a lot easier when they don’t have to respect Higgins on the other side. With the run game struggling and the defense losing Trey Hendrickson for the season, Burrow is being asked to cook a gourmet meal with missing ingredients.
Looking Ahead To Sunday
The Ravens are coming into Paycor Stadium smelling blood. They know the Bengals are battered, bruised, and emotionally drained from blowing that lead in the snow against Buffalo. Without Higgins to stretch the field, this game is going to be an uphill battle in the mud.
For Cincinnati, the rest of this season is about pride and survival. For Higgins, it’s about getting healthy. Let’s hope we see him back at 100% sooner rather than later, because the NFL is simply better when he’s catching touchdowns.
