Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-05 · by Joe Reedy The Associated Press
Joe Burrow remains optimistic despite the Cincinnati Bengals falling to 2-2 this season, even as star receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins face potential absence due to injuries. Both players were sidelined in Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars; Chase for a concussion and Higgins with a groin strain. Coach Zac Taylor expressed confidence in adjusting the game plan based on player availability, highlighting contributions from backups like Dohnte Meyers and Mitch Tinsley who stepped up when key players went out.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Joe Burrow remains calm despite the Cincinnati Bengals losing their second straight game to fall to 2-2, mirroring last year's start. Both star wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, were injured during Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Chase is still dealing with a concussion, while Higgins has a groin strain and is questionable for this week’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
The Bengals are already short-handed at receiver due to Andrei Iosivas (thumb) being on injured reserve and Colbie Young sidelined by a knee injury. Coach Zac Taylor expressed confidence in adjusting their game plan regardless of Chase and Higgins’ availability, highlighting that adding them later can be easier than initially assuming they will play.
Despite the injuries, Taylor noted positive contributions from backup players like Dohnte Meyers, Mitch Tinsley, Mike Gesicki, and Tanner Hudson.
Written for “Cincinnati Bengals Injuries” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Joe Burrow doesn’t want to panic after the Cincinnati Bengals lost their second straight game to fall to 2-2 for the second straight season.
asserted
Bengals → want → season
The veteran quarterback might have second thoughts in a couple of days if he is without star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for this week’s game at Miami.
uncertain
he → have → Miami
Chase remains in the concussion protocol and Higgins is questionable with a groin strain.
asserted
Higgins → remain → strain
Both were injured in Sunday’s 22-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
asserted
Both → injure → Jaguars
“We’ve got experience enough with this stuff where it happens before the week to where we kind of know where to set the plan and work them in as needed as that point comes.
asserted
point → get → them
It’s probably easier, quite frankly, when you don’t think you have them and you build the plan and then you add them in later,” coach Zac Taylor said Monday.
asserted
Taylor → ’ → them
“I don’t have any concerns with how we’ll put the plan together this week.
asserted
we → have → plan
We’ll make it work and emphasize the guys that we think will be available.”
asserted
we → make → guys
The Bengals were already thin at receiver with Andrei Iosivas (thumb) on injured reserve and Colbie Young sidelined with a knee injury.
asserted
Young → sideline → injury
If Chase and Higgins are both inactive, it would be the first time since Chase was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft that Burrow would not have at least one of them in the lineup.
asserted
Burrow → have → lineup
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said Chase going out in the second quarter affected the game plan against the Jaguars, but he liked how other players helped pick up the load.
asserted
players → say → load
“Any time you lose your best player not named Joe Burrow, it’s going to impact what you’re able to do but I do think we had guys step up,” Pitcher said.
asserted
Pitcher → lose → what
“I thought there was a really commendable effort from other skill players and guys like Dohnte Meyers, Mitch Tinsley, Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson, who all played significantly elevated snap counts and did good things, so, as is always the case, there are positives to find and I thought those guys provided some yesterday.
asserted
guys → think → some
Besides injuries, the Bengals need Burrow to eliminate turnovers.
asserted
Bengals → need → turnovers
Both of his interceptions came when the Jaguars didn’t blitz.
asserted
Jaguars → come → interceptions
“Obviously, we had our opportunities in the last two weeks, but this isn’t Armageddon or anything,” Burrow said.
asserted
Burrow → have → weeks
“That’s what the NFL is all about.
asserted
NFL → ’ → what
You can’t ride the roller coaster week-to-week.
asserted
You → ride → week
You’re going to win some; you’re going to lose some.
asserted
you → go → some
Obviously, you want to win every single one (and) you’re going to fight like hell to make it happen, but we’re not going to ride that roller coaster.”
asserted
we → want → coaster
What’s working
Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence had a sack for the second straight game along with two quarterback hits and three pressures.
asserted
Lawrence → work → hits
What needs help
The Bengals rushed for only 23 yards, tied for the third fewest in a game in franchise history, and averaged a mere 1.5 yards per carry.
asserted
Bengals → need → carry
Chase Brown had nine carries for 10 yards.
asserted
Brown → have → yards
Wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley had three receptions for 49 yards in his first game back with the team.
asserted
Tinsley → have → team
Tinsley was with the Bengals last season but was released after training camp and was on Houston’s practice squad.
asserted
Tinsley → release → squad
Safety Jordan Battle missed three tackles, including two in the open field that led to the Jaguars converting third-and-long plays.
asserted
Jaguars → miss → plays
Battle also allowed four receptions for 57 yards.
asserted
Battle → allow → yards
Cincinnati is also dealing with injuries in the secondary.
asserted
Cincinnati → deal → secondary
He has eight interceptions and one lost fumble.
asserted
He → have → interceptions
Up next
The Bengals visit the winless Dolphins.
asserted
Bengals → visit → Dolphins
Cincinnati has won the past two meetings, including 45-21 last season.
asserted
Cincinnati → win → 45
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