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Looking at the Bengals' receiver options as Chase and Higgins' status is uncertain on Sunday

Things are looking very different for the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday morning than they did 72 hours ago. On Thursday, Ja'Marr Chase was back at practice and the Bengals appeared to be starting the year with their top two targets, which wasn't always a sure thing given Chase's reticence and Tee Higgins' reported dissatisfaction with the team's franchise tagging rule. If you wake up Sunday, it's unlikely that Higgins will be on the field with a hamstring injury, and Chase was added to the injured list late on Saturday, having not participated due to an illness. Injuries are nothing new for Higgins, who played in just 12 games last season, posting career-lows in caught balls (42), receiving yards (656) and touchdowns (5). Despite Chase's illness report, ESPN reported late Saturday that the Bengals are “moving forward with this game plan and expecting” Uno to be available. With the status of the Bengals' top two receiving options still uncertain, the Bengals have signed Kendric Pryor from the practice squad.The Bengals will also rely on a talented but young receiver corps in depth, led by Andrei Iosivas, who was listed as the Bengals' starting slot receiver in the first depth of the regular season earlier this week.Iosivas, a sixth-round draft pick out of Princeton University last year, caught 15 passes for 116 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games.Trent Irwin and Charlie Jones, better known to Bengals fans for their talents on special teams, will also be used for some plays by Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow.Jones, also a member of the 2023 draft class, caught just seven passes in 11 games for the Bengals last year, but made 23 kicks for Cincinnati, totaling 248 yards and a Touchdown.Irwin, who has been with the Bengals since 2019, caught 25 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown last year.Burrow won't just use the wide receivers available. The absence of Chase or Higgins could give Burrow reason to welcome free agent Mike Gesicki to Cincinnati, with a high target share.From 2019-2021, Gesicki was targeted at least 85 times with the Miami Dolphins, including a career-high 112 times in 2021. Last year with the New England Patriots, Gesicki was one of only four players to catch multiple touchdown passes. Gesicki comes into a TE room that struggled to get open last year but started to gain momentum, especially with Tanner Hudson, who led the position with 39 catches for 352 yards. Cincinnati also boasts one of the best pass-catching backfields in the league. Last year, the Bengals' new running back, Zack Moss — then in Indianapolis — caught 27 balls for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Chase Brown, as a rookie, caught an additional 14 balls for 156 yards and a touchdown. Even if the Bengals reach one or both of their top targets on Sunday, none of them will be at full capacity. To start the season off right, it will be a real group effort on offense against New England.

CINCINNATI —

Things look very different for the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday morning than they did 72 hours ago.

On Thursday, Ja'Marr Chase returned to practice and the Bengals appeared set to start the year with their top two targets. However, that wasn't always a sure thing, with Chase holding back and Tee Higgins reportedly unhappy with the team franchise tagging him.

When you wake up on Sunday, it's unlikely that Higgins will be seen on the field due to a hamstring injury, and Chase was an afterthought on the injury report on Saturday, unable to participate due to illness.

Injuries are nothing new for Higgins. Last season, he played in just 12 games and posted career lows in catches (42), receiving yards (656) and touchdowns (5).

Despite Chase's illness, ESPN reported late Saturday that the Bengals “continue with their game plan and expect” Uno to be available.

With the status of the Bengals' top two receivers uncertain, the Bengals have promoted Kendric Pryor from the practice squad.

The Bengals will also rely on a talented but young receiver team in the lineup, led by Andrei Iosivas, who was listed as the Bengals' starting slot receiver on the first regular season roster earlier this week.

Iosivas, a sixth-round draft pick out of Princeton University last year, caught 15 passes for 116 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games.

Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow will also rely on Trent Irwin and Charlie Jones, who are better known to Bengals fans for their talent on special teams, to make some plays.

Jones, who is also in the 2023 draft, caught just seven passes in 11 games for the Bengals last year, but returned 23 kicks for Cincinnati, totaling 248 yards and one touchdown.

Irwin, who has been with the Bengals since 2019, caught 25 passes for 316 yards and one touchdown last year.

Burrow will not only have wide receivers at his disposal. The absence of Chase or Higgins could be Burrow's reason to welcome free agent Mike Gesicki to Cincinnati with a high target share.

From 2019 to 2021, Gesicki was targeted at least 85 times during his time with the Miami Dolphins, including a career-high 112 times in 2021.

Last year, Gesicki was one of only four players on the New England Patriots to catch multiple touchdown passes.

Gesicki comes to a TE room that struggled to establish itself last year but has gradually gained momentum, particularly with Tanner Hudson, who led the position with 39 catches for 352 yards.

Cincinnati also has one of the best pass-catching backfields in the league. Last year, Bengals new running back Zack Moss – then in Indianapolis – caught 27 balls for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

As a rookie, Chase Brown also made 14 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Even if the Bengals get one or both of their top players on Sunday, neither will be at full capacity. To start the season off right, it will be a true group effort on offense against New England.

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