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Charlie Jones Charlie Jones Ruled out with injured ankle
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 3:33 PM
Jones (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Analysis: Jones left last Sunday's game against the Ravens with an ankle injury and was unable to log any practice participation in Week 16. The kick and punt returner's absence will give Ke'Shawn Williams a chance to shine as the lead returner in both roles, with Samaje Perine likely to take over Williams' position as the secondary kick returner. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Questionable after full practice
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 2:32 PM
Higgins (concussion) was a full participant in practice Friday but is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Analysis: Higgins upgraded to full participation after a pair of limited practices, which marks another step forward as he works his way through the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, but he still needs to earn clearance from an independent neurologist before he can play again. If Higgins is cleared, the star wide receiver would likely return Sunday after missing his team's Week 15 loss to the Ravens. Either way, since the Bengals kick off Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET, those considering Higgins in Week 16 fantasy lineups will have his playing status confirmed before the first wave of games that day. |
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Noah Fant Noah Fant Won't play in Week 16
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 2:28 PM
Fant (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Analysis: Fant will sit out due to the ankle injury he sustained in this past Sunday's loss to the Ravens. Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson or Cam Grandy could play additional snaps alongside Mike Gesicki due to Fant's absence. Fant's next chance to play will be Week 17 against the Cardinals. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Questionable for Sunday
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 11:32 AM
Higgins (concussion) will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.
Analysis: Per Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer, coach Zac Taylor noted Friday that Higgins -- who was limited at practice Wednesday and Thursday -- still has one more hurdle to clear in the NFL's concussion protocol. Fortunately for those considering the wideout in Week 16 fantasy lineups, the Bengals' kickoff Sunday is at 1:00 p.m. ET. If Higgins isn't cleared to face Miami, Mitchell Tinsley would be in line to see added WR snaps alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Andrei Iosivas. |
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Drew Sample Drew Sample Cleared for Sunday
Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 3:51 PM
Sample (neck) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Analysis: Sample upgraded to full participation after being limited in Wednesday's session, and the tight end is free of injury designation for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. The No. 3 tight end has been quite productive for his depth position in the Bengals' offense this season, logging nine receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Sample's health stabilizes a tight end room that might be without Noah Fant (ankle) for Sunday's contest. |
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Noah Fant Noah Fant Upgrades to limited practice
Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 3:30 PM
Fant (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Analysis: Fant was unable to practice Wednesday due to the ankle injury he sustained during Cincinnati's loss to the Ravens in Week 15, but he's now making tangible progress in his recovery. Friday's session will represent Fant's last chance to prove he's capable of handling full practice reps ahead of Sunday's matchup against Miami. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Logs another limited practice
Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 3:26 PM
Higgins (concussion) was listed as a limited participant in practice Thursday.
Analysis: Ben Baby of ESPN.com notes that Higgins hasn't been a full practice participant since reporting concussion-like symptoms following the Bengals' Dec. 7 loss to the Bills. The wideout thus has one more chance to log a full session this week, and he'll also need to receive clearance from an independent neurologist in order to be removed from the five-step concussion protocol. If Higgins is still limited in Friday's practice, he could be ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins ahead of the weekend. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Shows up at Thursday's practice
Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 1:13 PM
Higgins (concussion) made an appearance in the final moments of the open portion of Thursday's practice, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: After not being spotted during the initial portion of the session, Higgins -- who was limited at practice Wednesday -- showed up with a helmet while working with the Bengals' training staff. Ultimately, Thursday's injury report will reveal Higgins' official participation level. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Not seen at practice Thursday
Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 12:56 PM
Higgins (concussion) wasn't spotted on the field during the early portion of Thursday's practice, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Higgins was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, so his absence to begin Thursday's session is notable. The Bengals' second injury report of the week will be released later Thursday and will provide official word on the extent of the wideout's practice participation. If Higgins isn't available Sunday against the Dolphins, Mitchell Tinsley would be in line to see more snaps alongside fellow receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Andrei Iosivas. |
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Charlie Jones Charlie Jones Doesn't practice Wednesday
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 6:22 PM
Jones (ankle) did not participate at practice Wednesday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Jones was knocked out of Sunday's game versus the Ravens in the second quarter by an ankle injury, and now his status for Week 16 is up in the air. He'll likely need to practice in some capacity Thursday or Friday to have an opportunity to suit up Sunday at Miami. |
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Drew Sample Drew Sample Limited Wednesday
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 6:19 PM
Sample (neck) was limited in Wednesday's practice, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: It's a new injury for Sample, who has appeared in all 14 games this season, including 11 starts. Sample doesn't do much other than block, as he's recorded just a 9-50-1 receiving line on 14 targets across 50 percent of the Bengals' offensive snaps. |
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Noah Fant Noah Fant Misses practice Wednesday
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 4:09 PM
Fant (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Fant was forced off the field during the second quarter of Cincinnati's loss to the Ravens in Week 15 due to a right ankle issue, and he appears to be trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's road matchup against the Dolphins. If Fant isn't able to gain clearance for Week 16, Tanner Hudson will operate as the No. 2 tight end behind Mike Gesicki. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Logs limited practice Wednesday
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 4:09 PM
Higgins (concussion) was limited at practice Wednesday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Ben Baby of ESPN.com previously noted via coach Zac Taylor that Higgins remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, with the wideout now having two more chances to upgrade his practice participation level before the Bengals' Week 16 game statuses are posted. In his absence during the team's 24-0 loss to the Ravens on Sunday, Mitchell Tinsley logged added WR snaps alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Andrei Iosivas. |
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Tanner Hudson Tanner Hudson Season-high three grabs in Week 15
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 1:56 PM
Hudson recorded three catches for 16 yards on five targets in Sunday's 24-0 loss to the Ravens.
Analysis: The three receptions were one shy of matching a season-high total for Hudson, who took the field for 19 of the team's 43 offensive snaps. Though Hudson has demonstrated some solid pass-catching chops when he's on the field, he's still no better than the second or third receiving option at the position behind Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant, the latter of whom exited Sunday with an ankle injury. The Bengals also continue to keep Drew Sample involved on offense as a blocking specialist, which typically leaves few snaps left over for Hudson. |
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Tee Higgins Tee Higgins Remains in concussion protocol
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 1:43 PM
Higgins remains in concussion protocol Wednesday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Bengals coach Zac Taylor hinted at Higgins still needing to clear multiple steps of the protocol, which isn't surprising after he suffered his second concussion of the season in Week 14 and then managed just two limited practices in Week 15. There's also some chance Cincinnati's lack of playoff hopes factors into the situation, though QB Joe Burrow has been adamant about trying to right the ship down the stretch. Mitchell Tinsley is the favorite to take most of Higgins' vacated snaps (again) if Higgins is unavailable Sunday at Miami. |
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Joe Burrow Joe Burrow Will start rest of regular season
Mon, Dec 15, 2025, 5:13 PM
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Monday that Burrow will start the team's remaining three regular-season games despite having been eliminated from playoff contention, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Taylor dismissed the notion that Cincinnati might consider sitting Burrow to preserve his health, in spite of the fact that the team's 24-0 loss to Baltimore in Week 15 closed the door on any chances of a playoff berth. "We want to win," Taylor said. Burrow missed nine games due to a turf toe injury before returning to action on Thanksgiving Day, when he earned a win against the Ravens, but the Bengals then lost to the Bills before he struggled mightily during the team's most recent matchup against Baltimore. He'll work to both close out the year strong and avoid any injuries during Cincinnati's next three matchups, beginning Sunday on the road against Miami. |
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Mitch Tinsley Mitch Tinsley Logs 16 yards in loss
Mon, Dec 15, 2025, 11:14 AM
Tinsley caught one of two targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 24-0 loss to the Ravens.
Analysis: The Penn State product operated as the Bengals' No. 3 wideout Sunday while Tee Higgins (concussion) was sidelined. However, Tinsley saw just two targets, with the vast majority of Cincinnati's receiving work going to Ja'Marr Chase and Chase Brown, who combined to catch 17 of 23 targets for 169 yards. Tinsley has now recorded eight receptions on 23 targets for 116 yards and two touchdowns through 14 appearances this season. He's likely to remain a depth option in the Bengals' receiver room in the Week 16 matchup against the Dolphins. |
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Andrei Iosivas Andrei Iosivas Shut out in loss
Sun, Dec 14, 2025, 4:40 PM
Iosivas failed to bring in his only target during the Bengals' 24-0 loss to the Ravens on Sunday.
Analysis: This was a hugely disappointing effort considering that the Bengals were playing without Tee Higgins (concussion). The Ravens' pass rush wreaked havoc against quarterback Joe Burrow, and Burrow targeted Ja'Marr Chase nearly every time he dropped back. |
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Mike Gesicki Mike Gesicki Disappointing day in loss to Ravens
Sun, Dec 14, 2025, 3:57 PM
Gesicki had just one catch for 11 yards on three targets in the Bengals' 24-0 loss to the Ravens on Sunday.
Analysis: When Tee Higgins (concussion) missed games last season, Gesicki was frequently a big target for Joe Burrow, but the Ravens locked down on him Sunday. One of Gesicki's targets was a seam ball on fourth down when the Ravens had two defenders on Gesicki, a pass that ended in an incompletion and turnover on downs. |
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Samaje Perine Samaje Perine Returns for final series
Sun, Dec 14, 2025, 3:47 PM
Perine (ankle) returned from injury in the Bengals' final offensive series during Sunday's 24-0 loss to the Ravens. He finished the game with 14 carries for 42 yards and one catch for one yard on his only target.
Analysis: Frequently, players with ankle injuries experience a decent amount of swelling subsequent to suffering the injury, so we'll track Perine's status heading into practice next week. Perine and Chase Brown split carries almost evenly Sunday, though Brown was far more involved in the passing game. |
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