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Ben Child, ESPN employees author
CINCINNATI – The Bengals can be with out considered one of their finest broad receivers in one of many group’s largest video games.
Large receiver Tee Higgins will miss his second straight sport as he offers with a hamstring harm. He didn’t practice all week and was dominated out on the match standing report issued on Wednesday.
The fourth-year Clemson participant didn’t play within the group’s Week 10 loss to the Texans after struggling the harm throughout apply on November 8. Earlier this week, Bengals coach Zac Taylor stated the tight turnaround introduced a giant problem for Higgins and defensive finish Sam Hubbard versus Baltimore at M&T Financial institution Stadium.
Hubbard, who didn’t apply all week as a consequence of an ankle harm, can also be out for Thursday’s sport.
Cincinnati can also be with out broad receiver Andrei Iosivas. Sixth-round draft choose Princeton was out all week with a knee harm. Two of the rookie’s 4 catches had been for touchdowns.
That leaves Cincinnati with out further depth after Higgins’ prolonged absence. After a gradual begin to the season, Higgins had his finest sport in a Week 9 win over the Payments, the place he caught eight of 9 targets for 110 yards. His different notable sport got here in Week 2 in opposition to Baltimore, when he had eight catches for 89 yards and each of his touchdowns on the season.
Earlier this week, Bengals broad receiver Ja’Marr Chase stated all one-on-one matchups had been restricted as a result of Higgins didn’t play within the 30-27 loss to Houston.
“All they did was play their No. 1 nook in opposition to our No. 2 receiver and double-team me,” Chase stated.
The Bengals (5-4) will face a 7-3 Baltimore group that leads the NFL in fewest factors allowed per drive. Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan acknowledged the stakes Cincinnati confronted Thursday evening.
“It will be a battle,” Callahan stated this week. “There’s lots at stake in these video games. I feel it looks like a playoff sport in November.”
Cincinnati obtained some excellent news. Defensive finish Trey Hendrickson, the group’s main go rusher who suffered a knee harm in opposition to Houston, will play in opposition to Baltimore.
Hendrickson will slot in at left deal with as a backup for the Ravens. The Ravens have dominated out Ronnie Stanley (knee) after he missed apply all week, that means Patrick Mekari will begin in his place.
Baltimore additionally listed Professional Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) as questionable. Veteran journeyman Rock Ya-Sin is predicted to interchange him.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley contributed to this report.
