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Tee Higgins Injury Update
Tee Higgins is still working his way back from a concussion in December 2025. He remains in the NFL concussion protocol after suffering two head injuries only a few weeks apart.
The first concussion happened against the New England Patriots on November 23. Higgins went up for a deep pass then crashed to the turf and stayed down.
Medical staff brought out the cart and he was taken to the locker room and ruled out for the rest of that game. He then entered the protocol and missed the next matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
After that Higgins slowly progressed through the return steps. He attended meetings and conditioning then limited practice and then full practice.
By the time the Bengals faced the Buffalo Bills in Week 14 he had cleared the protocol and was active. In that Bills game he saw a solid workload and finished with multiple catches and good yardage in a high scoring loss.
The problem is he took more big hits in that same game. On two separate plays his head hit the turf hard and he needed in game checks in the blue medical tent.
He passed those checks and returned to the field but did not feel right later. After the game he told the staff he had concussion symptoms again so the team put him back in the protocol.
That second concussion created a new setback. Doctors usually treat repeat head injuries in a short window with extra caution.
Cincinnati has echoed that tone and the staff has stressed player safety over pushing him into the lineup. Given the Bengals poor record in 2025 there is also less pressure to rush a return.
Higgins has already missed more time since that Bills game. He sat out the Week 15 meeting with the Ravens after being ruled out on the final injury report.
Reports say he practiced in a limited way before that but did not clear every step of the protocol. That was a sign he is improving but still short of full clearance.
This week attention has shifted to Week 16 against the Miami Dolphins. The first official injury reports list Higgins with a concussion and show him as a limited participant.
Coach Zac Taylor has confirmed he is still in the protocol and needs to complete more steps. Coverage from national outlets notes that he practiced with his helmet on and did some work which points to progress.
To return Higgins must do a full practice then pass tests with an independent neurologist. The team then can clear him for contact and for game action if there are no symptoms.
Because this is his second concussion in a short span some analysts think the Bengals could still hold him out even if he gets close.
Fantasy sites are calling him a risky play until there is firm news that he has fully cleared. Higgins is trending in a better direction with limited practice and visible activity.
At the same time his status for Week 16 remains uncertain and will likely depend on how he feels in the last practices before the Dolphins game.
Disclaimer:
This article contains updates on Tee Higgins' concussion recovery. His injury status is subject to change based on further medical evaluations and team announcements.
