CINCINNATI — The Bengals began preparations for Miami without either of their top two receivers on the practice field, leaving one of the biggest questions surrounding Sunday’s game unresolved.
Ja’Marr Chase did not participate Wednesday as he remains in concussion protocol following Cincinnati’s loss to Jacksonville. Tee Higgins also sat out practice while dealing with an abductor injury and a neck issue.
Neither has been ruled out against Miami, but their availability will remain one of the main storylines throughout the rest of the week.
The encouraging news came from Colbie Young.
The rookie receiver returned to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday for the first time since injuring his knee on the opening snap of his first NFL start at Pittsburgh. Young has not played since, but his return gives Cincinnati another potential option at a position that suddenly needs as many healthy bodies as it can find.
That depth was tested extensively against Jacksonville.
Chase left in the second quarter, Higgins exited late, and Cincinnati finished the game relying heavily on Dohnte Meyers and Mitch Tinsley. Meyers responded with seven catches for 82 yards, while Tinsley made a 29-yard reception during Cincinnati’s final drive.
Those performances provided some reassurance, but there is an obvious difference between asking reserves to finish one game and asking them to carry a larger role for an entire afternoon.
Cincinnati enters Sunday at 2-2 and cannot afford to overlook an 0-4 Miami team, particularly with the Bengals already trying to recover from consecutive losses. If Chase or Higgins cannot go, Joe Burrow may again have to lean on receivers who entered the season much further down the depth chart.
Young’s potential return would help considerably.
The Bengals will have two more practices before final game statuses are issued Friday. Until then, Cincinnati’s receiver room remains very much in flux.
