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Tee Higgins once looked like the WR2 of the future for the Cincinnati Bengals. A second-round pick in the 2020 draft out of Clemson, he broke out in 2021 as then-rookie Ja’Marr Chase’s complement in the backfield, drawing attention either towards or away from him and making defenses question themselves about whom to cover.
This partnership went to the Super Bowl that season, then made another AFC Championship game the next. But, a collapse for him and the team put his long-term future in doubt, and the franchise tag did not help matters.
So far in 2024, Higgins has dealt with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the first two games. Now, a new issue has emerged.
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Tee Higgins injury update for Week 10
Ahead of the Bengals’ Week 10 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, ESPN’s Ben Baby reported that the wideout would be missing Tuesday’s practice with a quad injury.
Said injury occurred during the Week 7 win at the Cleveland Browns, where he was the Bengals’ leading receiver with four catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.
As a result, he did not play the next two games and missed Monday’s practice. He was joined on the sidelines by fellow wideout Charlie Jones (groin) and defensive tackle BJ Hill (rib).
Another Monday absentee, offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (knee), was upgraded to limited participant. Upgraded from limited to full was defensive end Sam Hubbard (hamstring).
Should fantasy managers be concerned with Tee Higgins’ injury?
While Tee Higgins‘ recent injury history is indeed concerning for fantasy managers who have invested highly in him, those who are more team-oriented need not panic.
In his absence, tight end Mike Gesicki has risen from relative obscurity to become the second-most prolific receiver in Cincinnati. Against the Las Vegas Raiders, he had his first 100-yard game and scored his first touchdowns. He brought his overall fantasy score to 75.3 points, dangerously close to Higgins’ 81.1.
Meanwhile, in Sportskeeda’s Fantasy Football WR rankings, Andrei Iosivas has gradually overtaken him. While Higgins is completely unranked, the sophomore sits at WR42. Another team veteran, Trenton Irwin, sits at WR89.
This sudden proliferation of receiving depth should leave Bengals-oriented managers more confident in ditching the once-important wideout.
Edited by Ribin Peter