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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 07: Tee Higgins #5 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Tee Higgins walked off the field at Highmark Stadium on Sunday night having done everything he could for the Cincinnati Bengals.
The sixth-year wide receiver recorded six receptions on 11 targets for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals‘ 39-34 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Higgins took repeated vicious hits through four quarters in Buffalo and never slowed down.
On Monday morning, ESPN’s Ben Baby reported that the Bengals placed him back into concussion protocol.
That move did not come from something missed during the game. The NFL and NFLPA confirmed that in a statement, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
“Tee Higgins was evaluated twice in game and cleared to return. After the game, in discussion with club medical personnel as part of a postgame evaluation, he notified the team he was experiencing symptoms and was immediately placed in the concussion protocol.”
Head coach Zac Taylor said Higgins arrived at the facility Monday not feeling right and reported it on his own.
Zac Taylor: Tee Higgins is back in concussion protocol. Came into the facility today not feeling great. He’s doing the right thing to go into protocol.
Higgins did not hesitate when asked why he continued playing through violent contact.
“I’m a team-first guy,” he said.
Sunday did not allow for cautious football. Snow slicked the field at Highmark Stadium. Buffalo pressed receivers at the line. Safeties crashed downhill. Joe Burrow and Josh Allen spent four quarters trading scores. Higgins played exactly as he always has. He attacked the game.
Higgins Answered the Only Question That Mattered Before the Reset
Higgins returned against Buffalo after missing time with a previous concussion. The conditions made the test harder for the Bengals. Cold air tightened muscles. Snow slowed footing. The Bills defense forced receivers to win through contact.
Higgins responded with two touchdowns and relentless pressure on coverage.
Cincinnati’s offense looks different when Higgins plays. Defenses cannot sit on Ja’Marr Chase. Corners cannot cheat inside. Burrow regains his margin throw on third down and in the red zone.
Even in a devastating loss, the offense finally resembled its intended structure again. Burrow threw four touchdowns. Chase crossed 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth straight season. Mike Gesicki found space inside for his first TD grab of the year. And Higgins controlled the boundary.
He also absorbed the worst contact of the night.
One fall sent him hard to the turf. He popped up and stayed in. Another came on his second touchdown. He crashed full speed into the end zone and held the ball through the impact. He jogged back to the sideline without hesitation.
Bengals Offense Will Wait On Higgins Again Before Week 15
The Bengals no longer handle the season with playoff expectations. Their Week 14 loss dropped them to 4–9. The path narrowed dramatically. Evaluation now matters more than postseason placement.
Taylor made the direction clear. Higgins reported symptoms. He entered protocol, and the team will not rush him. The Bengals will closely monitor him ahead of their Week 15 AFC North rematch against the Baltimore Ravens.
That decision protects Higgins’ long-term health and gives Cincinnati a clear path forward instead of uncertainty. When he returns again, nobody will question how he intends to play.
Derek Hryn Derek Hryn is a writer for Heavy.com. He has extensive experience covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, along with providing expert fantasy football analysis for DraftKings and SB Nation. His work has been featured at Sports Illustrated, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others. More about Derek Hryn
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