The Bengals gave their playoff hopes a shot in the arm by beating the Ravens last Thursday and wide receiver Tee Higgins could be back to help them take another step in the right direction against the Bills this week.
Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters at a Wednesday press conference that Higgins will be on the practice field later in the day. Higgins will be limited in his first practice work since suffering a concussion in Cincinnati’s Week 12 loss to the Patriots.
Higgins remains in the concussion protocol, but the return to practice moves him closer to being cleared in time to face Buffalo on Sunday.
Higgins has 40 catches for 575 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen became the No. 1 QB in NFL history in career rushing touchdowns on Sunday when he ran into the end zone for the 76th time, one more than Cam Newton’s former NFL record. But Allen has also scored more rushing touchdowns than a lot of Hall of Fame running backs.
Allen’s rushing touchdown total ranks 25th in NFL history among all players, and he could be in the Top 20 all-time by the end of this season.
With 76 rushing touchdowns, Allen already has more than Hall of Fame running backs Earl Campbell (74), Leroy Kelly (74), Joe Perry (71), Steve Van Buren (69), Thurman Thomas (65), Larry Csonka (64), Lenny Moore (63), O.J. Simpson (61), Terrell Davis (60), Paul Hornung (50), John Henry Johnson (48), Floyd Little (43), Ollie Matson (40), Gale Sayers (39), Hugh McElhenny (38) and Ernie Nevers (38).
With one more rushing touchdown, Allen will tie Tony Dorsett for the 24th most in NFL history. With two more he’ll tie Ricky Watters for 23rd. With four more he’ll tie Edgerrin James for 22nd. With five more he’ll tie Ottis Anderson and Frank Gore for 20th.
Allen isn’t just one of the great rushing quarterbacks of all time. He’s one of the best football players ever when it comes to running the ball into the end zone.
The Bills trailed the Steelers at halftime of last Sunday’s game, but they were able to take control of the game a few minutes into the second half.
Cornerback Christian Benford had a big hand in making that happen. After Joey Bosa forced Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to fumble on a sack on the first play of the third quarter, Benford scooped the ball up and returned it for a touchdown. Rodgers went to the medical tent after that play and Benford intercepted backup Mason Rudolph a few plays later to set up a touchdown that sent the Bills on their way to a 26-7 win.
Benford also posted two tackles and a tackle for loss in the victory.
The NFL announced on Wednesday that Benford has been named the AFC defensive player of the week in recognition of his performance.
Defensive end Joey Bosa won’t be taking part in the first Bills practice session of the week.
Head coach Sean McDermott said that Bosa will sit out on Wednesday. Bosa suffered a hamstring injury late in last Sunday’s win over the Steelers. Bosa had a key strip-sack of Aaron Rodgers that led to a Christian Benford touchdown return before leaving the game.
Left tackle Dion Dawkins did not play in that game due to a concussion, but he is progressing through the protocol and McDermott said he will be a limited participant on Wednesday. Right tackle Spencer Brown (shoulder) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) are also set for limited practices after missing the game.
Linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow) and wide receiver Josh Palmer (ankle) will not practice. The Bills will issue injury designations for their game against the Bengals on Friday.
The Broncos are bringing in some potential help at receiver for the stretch run.
Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, Denver is signing Elijah Moore to its practice squad.
Moore, 25, was recently released by the Bills after appearing in nine games for the club this season. He recorded nine catches for 112 yards along with six carries for 24 yards with a touchdown.
A second-round pick in 2021, Moore played his first two seasons with the Jets before being traded to the Browns in 2023. He has tallied 209 catches for 2,274 yards with nine touchdowns in his 70 career games with 42 starts.
