Bengals declare several players out for Week 16 game at Dolphins and provide latest update on Tee Higgins

Tee Higgins is officially questionable for the Bengals’ Week 16 game in Miami.

John Sheeran Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins gets taken down by Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White during first half action at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 7, 2025.
© Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins have released their final injury reports ahead of their Week 16 matchup in South Florida, and one team has a lot more players already out compared to the other.

Let’s take a look at Friday’s injury reports for both the Bengals and Dolphins.

Bengals Friday injury report

PlayerInjuryW/T/FDesignation
QB Joe BurrowKneeFull/Full/Full
G Dylan FairchildHamstringFull/Full/Full
TE Noah FantAnkleDNP/Limited/DNPOUT
WR Tee HigginsConcussionLimited/LimitedQUESTIONABLE
DT B.J. HillAnkleDNP/DNP/LimitedQUESTIONABLE
DT Kris Jenkins Jr.*AnkleDNP/DNP/DNPOUT (I.R.)
WR Charlie JonesAnkleDNP/DNP/DNPOUT
S PJ JulesAnkleFull/Full/FullQUESTIONABLE
OT Amarius MimsKneeFull/Full/Full
DE Joseph OssaiAnkleDNP/DNP/DNPOUT
HB Samaje PerineAnkleFull/Full/Full
TE Drew SampleNeckLimited/Full/Full
DE Shemar StewartKneeFull/Full/Full
CB DJ Turner IIAnkleFull/Full/Full

Observations

  • Three players were officially declared out for Sunday including starting defensive end Joseph Ossai (ankle). Noah Fant (ankle), and Charlie Jones (ankle) will also be sidelined, and Kris Jenkins Jr. (ankle) was placed on the Reserve/Injured list, taking him out of the final three games entirely. Shemar Stewart was activated to the 53-man roster, as he alluded he would be Thursday, so he’s a good guess to start in Ossai’s place. Tanner Hudson will fill Fant’s usage, as will newly-claimed Ke’Shawn Williams for Jones.
  • Tee Higgins (concussion) went full in Friday’s practice but still hasn’t yet cleared the concussion protocol and is officially questionable. His status won’t be known until Saturday at the earliest. The sixth-year wide receiver has missed two of Cincinnati’s last three games with two separate concussions.
  • B.J. Hill (ankle) and PJ Jules (ankle) are also questionable. Hill not being able to go would thrust both McKinnley Jackson and Jordan Jefferson into elevated roles at defensive tackle with Jenkins already decommissioned for the remainder of the year.

Dolphins Friday injury report

PlayerInjuryW/T/FDesignation
RB De’Von AchaneRibsFull/Full/Full
OL Larry BoromIllnessFull/Full/Full
LB Jordyn BrooksFoot/KneeDNP/DNP/LimitedQUESTIONABLE
DB Elijah CampbellAnkle/KneeDNP/Limited/LimitedQUESTIONABLE
LS Joe CardonaHamstringFull/Full/Full
CB Rasul DouglasFootFull/Full/Full
S Minkah FitzpatrickCalfDNP/DNP/DNPOUT
LB Cameron GoodeKneeFull/Full/Full
RB Ollie GordonAnkleFull/Full/Full
DT Kenneth GrantShoulderLimited/Limited/Full
CB Isaiah JohnsonKneeDNP/DNP/LimitedQUESTIONABLE
S Ifeatu MelifonwuThumb/GroinFull/Full/Full
OL Andrew MeyerTricepFull/Full/FullQUESTIONABLE
K Jason SandersRight HipLimited/Limited/LimitedQUESTIONABLE
TE Darren WallerNIR — Rest/KneeLimited/Limited/Full

Observations

  • Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) is the lone Dolphin who’s already been declared out for Sunday. Fitzpatrick is considered week-to-week with his injury.
  • Jordyn Brooks (foot/knee), who went limited Friday after not practicing either Wednesday or Thursday, is one of five questionable. Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee), Isaiah Johnson (knee), Andrew Meyer (tricep), and Jason Sanders (right hip) will all be game-time decisions. Only Meyer was a full participant Friday.