The Cincinnati Bengals could be without star wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for their Week 5 matchup with the Miami Dolphins, throwing a massive wrench into their typical game plan.
Chase is still in concussion protocol a week ahead of the bye, and Higgins remains day-to-day with an adductor injury. The injury updates for the two receivers are good long-term news, but if the Bengals can't find a way to beat the Dolphins while shorthanded, it may be time to hit the panic button.
The hit to the top end of the wide receiver room continues to deplete an already thin room as fellow wide receivers Andrei Iosivas and Colbie Young will not see the field until after the bye week.
Zac Taylor, Joe Burrow and other receiving options will have to step up to beat the Miami Dolphins
If Chase and Higgins are unable to go in Week 5, a collective effort will need to be made in order to keep the passing game up to par. Taylor will have to be more creative with his play-calling abilities; Burrow will have to be near-perfect and young wide receivers like Dohnte Meyers and Mitchell Tinsley will have to step up.
Myers and Tinsley, along with tight end Mike Gesicki, were able to step up in the absence of Chase and Higgins in the Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Myers and Tinsley combined for 10 receptions and 131 yards, while Gesicki added another 40 yards and a touchdown.
If they become the top receivers for the Bengals against the Dolphins, they will likely face more attention from the defense than they have in their entire careers.
Gesicki was in prime position to catch a game-winning touchdown against the Jaguars, but due to him playing out of position as a result of injuries, he made the wrong cut, causing the throw to miss. Gesicki said he learned what he was supposed to do on that play on the sideline after the game in an article from Yahoo Sports.
"It was a play that, because of personnel stuff, normally that's, that's Tee running that, so when I went in, I moved to Tee's spot. I felt the corner heavy inside. I'm supposed to cross his face. I didn't. I learned that (play) on the sideline...There's no excuse for it. I was just trying to make a play. It is what it is."
A week of practice with preparation for movement in typical positions should limit incidents like that, but Burrow needs to improve as well. It's hard to ask for more than the 428 passing-yard performance against the Jaguars, but it was his two interceptions that swung the game.
An interception at the opponent's 10-yard line that leads to a score on the other end is essentially a 14-point swing. In the NFL, no matter who the opponent, that is extremely difficult to overcome. Just because the Dolphins are 0-4 doesn't mean the Bengals can get away with mistakes like that.
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