Tee Higgins lay on the turf for several tense minutes, trainers surrounding him as Paycor Stadium went quiet.
The former Clemson standout and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver was carted off late in Sunday’s 26–20 loss to the New England Patriots after a frightening fall that ended his afternoon and thrust his status into doubt heading into a short week.
Scary Fall Leads to Concussion Diagnosis
The injury came with around five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter as Higgins tried to haul in a one-handed catch. He went up, lost control and crashed hard to the ground, landing on his head.
Higgins stayed down as medical staff rushed onto the field. After an extended evaluation, he was helped onto a cart and taken to the locker room.
Postgame, the Bengals announced that Higgins had suffered a concussion. He will need to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol before he can return to the field. Cincinnati’s next game comes quickly — a Thanksgiving night showdown with the Baltimore Ravens (8:20 p.m., NBC/Peacock).
Productive Day Cut Short
Before the injury, Higgins was quietly stacking another solid outing.
He finished with five receptions for 31 yards, continuing a season in which he’s been a steady red-zone and chain-moving option. Through Sunday, the 26-year-old has 40 catches for 575 yards and seven touchdowns on the year.
For a Bengals team that leans heavily on its receiver depth, any absence from Higgins would be felt — especially with the added spotlight and compressed recovery time of a holiday primetime game.
From Clemson Star to Bengals Cornerstone
The moment was an unsettling twist in what’s otherwise been a lucrative and productive year for the former Tiger.
Back in March, Higgins finalized a four-year, $115 million deal with Cincinnati, cementing his place as a long-term offensive cornerstone. Originally drafted in the second round (No. 33 overall) in 2020, he’s grown into one of the league’s most reliable boundary targets and a key piece of the Bengals’ passing attack.
For Clemson fans, seeing one of their brightest NFL success stories carted off is jarring. For the Bengals, the focus now shifts from production to protocol — and hoping a scary scene doesn’t turn into a prolonged absence.