The New England Patriots edged the Cincinnati Bengals 26-20 in Week 12 at Paycor Stadium.
New England built its lead with 17 points in the second quarter, highlighted by a Hunter Henry touchdown and a pick-six from Marcus Jones.
Cincinnati answered with a 63-yard Evan McPherson field goal before halftime, and Joe Flacco connected with Mike Tinsley for a fourth-quarter touchdown.
However, the game’s most concerning moment came with 4:50 left in the final quarter.
Flacco targeted wide receiver Tee Higgins deep, but the pass fell incomplete.
Higgins struck his head on the turf, remained motionless, and was carted off.
He was later ruled out with a concussion.
Loading twitter content...
Read More: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Makes NFL History Against Colts
Higgins, taken in the second round (No. 33 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, has been a consistent outside threat, part of the Bengals’ offensive core alongside Ja’Marr Chase.
Despite sitting behind Chase as the team's No. 2 receiver, Higgins has enjoyed a productive six-year NFL career, posting consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022, along with a career-high 10 receiving touchdowns last year.
Coming into Sunday, he had 35 receptions, 544 yards, and seven touchdowns on the season, averaging 15.5 yards per catch.
...Read More: Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Announces Brutal Injury News Hours Before Packers Game
Unfortunately, Higgins has dealt with several injuries over his career, including hamstring issues that sidelined him for multiple stretches in 2023 and 2024, an ankle injury last season, and a prior concussion in 2022.
Despite flashes of dominance, recurring soft-tissue injuries have limited his availability, missing multiple games each of the last three seasons.
The NFL protocol for concussions is a five-step process that includes rest, light activity, non-contact drills, full practice, and medical clearance.
Recovery timelines vary widely, as some players return in a week, others miss multiple games, depending on the severity of the concussion.
Higgins will undergo further evaluation in the coming days, at which point we should receive an official update.
At 3–8, Cincinnati’s playoff hopes are slim, and losing a key receiver only deepens an already disappointing season.
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
NFLChiefs Fans Convinced Patrick Mahomes Took Shot at Andy Reid2 min read
NFLTravis Kelce Has Warning for Chiefs Before Pivotal Colts Game2 min read
NFLMinkah Fitzpatrick Earns Double NFL Punishment for Actions vs. Commanders2 min read
NFLPatrick Mahomes, Chiefs Receive Massive News Hours Before Colts Game2 min read
NFLNFL Makes Punishment Decision After Travis Kelce Incident vs Broncos3 min read
NFLPackers Get Concerning Josh Jacobs News Before Vikings Game3 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
WorldUkrainian Troops Push Back in Fierce Fight for Key City—Kyiv5 min read
NewsJasmine Crockett Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene for Resignation5 min read
PoliticsZohran Mamdani Recounts Visit With Donald Trump5 min read
WorkHired, Managed, and Fired by AI: Stories From Those Who Have Been There6 min read
NewsMarjorie Taylor Greene’s Next Move? What Polls Tell Us4 min read
NewsNigerian School Kidnapping Update: 50 Children Escape Abductors5 min readTrending
Higher EducationFull List of Degrees Not Classed As ‘Professional’ by Trump Admin8 min read
Winter StormWinter Storm Warning As 18 Inches of Snow To Hit5 min read
WeatherWinter Weather Alerts in 4 States As 18 Inches of Snow To Hit3 min read
Product recallAmazon Recall: Threat-To-Life Warning Issued For Items Pulled Nationwide4 min read
Social SecuritySocial Security Issues Update on 2025 Changes4 min readOpinion
OpinionConventional Wisdom: Price of Culture Edition3 min read
OpinionLatinos Catch the Fish. Why Aren’t They at the Decision-Making Table? | Opinion5 min read
OpinionWhy Is the US Punishing Legal Immigrants? | Opinion5 min read
OpinionWhat Is an American?6 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: MAGA Infighting Edition2 min read
