How Is Tee Higgins After Last Collision in Rain-Soaked Bengals Practice?

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins — and the rest of the organization — had a slight fright Monday toward the end of a rain-soaked practice when cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt slipped and went into Higgins’ legs.

Tee Higgins, Bengals Receive Scare After Hit at Practice

Safety Nick Scott tried to avoid the entangled bodies by leaping them, but Higgins never went down, resulting in Scott colliding with his chest and knocking Higgins to the ground.

Higgins was slow to get up but eventually did so, although he did not participate in any of the few reps that remained. Taylor-Britt limped toward the sideline but returned a couple of plays later.

“Little bit. Nothing too major,” Higgins said when asked if the play stirred a scare. “I just came down awkward on my leg.”

That Higgins did not return to practice was not a major development because 1) the day was almost done, and 2) he’s been taking limited reps in team periods ever since quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a calf strain on July 27.

Both players are still trying to secure extensions before the start of the regular season.

“Just precaution things,” Higgins said when asked about his lack of reps the last few weeks. “Just talkin’ to (wide receivers coach Troy Walters) and goin’ back and forth with him, being able to take some team reps off and just do individual.

“Actually, getting back in there and doing everything with the guys, it feels good,” Higgins said.

Until it didn’t.

Scott said his heart skipped a couple of beats after he knocked Higgins to the ground.

“When he was slow to get up, I was like, ‘Oh, man, this would suck,'” Scott said. “But he’s fine. I think he just got the wind knocked out of him. I thought I was gonna clear him, but he never went down and kind of was right in my jumping path, so I just landed on him.”

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has said on multiple occasions he likes it when weather impacts practice because it’s something the players need to be prepared to face in a game.

And despite the slick footing that led to Taylor-Britt’s slipping and falling into his legs, Higgins said he was glad to be able to practice in the elements, especially on a day that was heavy on deeper balls thrown down the field by quarterbacks Jake Browning and Trevor Siemian.

It's raining tuddies 🌩️@jake_browning x @Trent5Taylor pic.twitter.com/z35oEmbqDY

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 14, 2023

“It was great work,” Higgins said. “A lot of jump balls we had, but we can’t have no excuses. Rain, sleet, or snow, we’ve got to make the play at the end of the day. The defense went out there and had a great day. The offense has to look at the film and pick it up the next practice.”

That next practice will be Wednesday before the team travels to Atlanta on Thursday night ahead of Friday’s second preseason game.

Despite Monday’s scare and the ongoing contract limbo, Higgins said he would be on board with suiting up and playing against the Falcons.

“As a player, I want to play,” Higgins said. “But I’ll leave that up to the coaches and go from there.”

Taylor said during his news conference before Monday’s practice that the coaching staff hadn’t made a final determination on which starters, if any, will play Friday night.

Regardless of whether he plays, Higgins is going to have a good time on the field as he and Tyler Boyd plan to catch up with former teammate Jessie Bates during warmups.

“It’s gonna be good to see my boy Jessie,” Higgins said. “I’m definitely gonna joke around a little bit. I know TB will. TB been with him longer than I have, but it’s gonna be good to see my boy.”

It’s a good bet that will be the closest Higgins comes to any Atlanta defender Friday night.