The Cincinnati Bengals faced a mix of news regarding injuries as they prepared for Thursday’s practice.
On the downside, defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins and BJ Hill are considered day-to-day and are not anticipated to practice today, putting their availability for this week and beyond in doubt.
On a more positive note, wide receiver Tee Higgins and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins are set to practice today, as confirmed by head coach Zac Taylor.
Taylor commented on Higgins’ return, stating, “Get him into practice and see where it goes from there. He’s a top player in this league. That makes every grouping better.”
Taylor also mentioned plans to integrate Kris Jenkins and Amarius Mims more into practice this week to evaluate their readiness for Monday’s game.
Rankins and Hill, dealing with hamstring injuries, will not participate in practice today, with no further updates available at this time.
Higgins’ return is crucial for the Bengals’ offense, which showed promise against the Chiefs last week but had a tough outing in Week 1. The offense performs at its best when Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase are both healthy and active.
As for Jenkins, the second-round rookie was anticipated to play a significant role this season, but a thumb injury requiring surgery kept him out of the first two games. If he can return this week, Jenkins could be pivotal in the matchup against the Washington Commanders, especially if Hill and Rankins remain sidelined following their injuries from Week 2.
