The Cincinnati Bengals play the Bills this Sunday, and again, injuries could have a significant impact on the game for the Bengals. With every game being a must-win game for the Bengals, injuries are going to be a substantial factor down the stretch for them.

They’re currently chasing the Steelers and the Ravens for first place in the division with just five games to go.

With today being the last practice of the week, we can start to gain a better understanding of who will play this week and who won’t. The Bengals had several key players who missed the game against the Ravens last week, but they appear much healthier this week.

Bengals Friday Injury Report

The big thing on that list is that Tee Higgins is a full participant and has been cleared from concussion protocol. Getting Higgins back is huge for the Bengals’ offense. It opens up the Bengals’ offense significantly and doesn’t allow teams to focus solely on stopping Ja’Marr Chase.

Having the passing game open up also helps the run game, making things easier for the Bengals in that regard as well. Now let’s take a look at the Bengals’ injury report for Friday’s practice.

Tahj Brooks (concussion) – Full Participant
Chase Brown (calf) – Full Participant
Jermaine Burton (ankle) – Full Participant
Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) – Did Not Participate
Shaka Heyward (fibula) – Limited Participant
Tee Higgins (concussion) – Full Participant
Cam Sample (oblique) – Full Participant
BJ Hill (rest) – Full Participant

Tahj Brooks has also cleared concussion protocol and was a full participant on Friday. He should be the Bengals’ third running back this week. Chase Brown was also a full participant and should be a huge part of the Bengals’ offense against the Bills this week. Jermaine Burton is also a full participant, but hasn’t been active all year.

The other significant update from the injury report is that Trey Hendrickson remains a non-participant and will not play against the Bills. This is the fifth game in a row and the sixth of the last seven that Hendrickson will not play in. The Bengals didn’t put him on the IR and have been saying he is week-to-week this whole time.

The Bengals enter this game fairly healthy, and they can’t ask for much more than that. Higgins’s being back is a huge boost to the offense, and outside of Hendrickson, the defense isn’t missing anyone. If the Bengals want to stay in playoff contention, they must win this game. If they don’t, they can’t blame injuries this week.