Bengals vs. Packers injury report: Tee Higgins, Jessie Bates return to practice

The benefit of playing on Thursday night is having a long rest before the next game. For the Cincinnati Bengals, the extra rest days seem to have aided their injured players.

Three of the four starters who missed last Thursday’s game ended up practicing Wednesday. Jessie Bates III (neck) was a full participant while Tee Higgins (shoulder) and Chidobe Awuzie (groin) were limited. Xavier Su’a-Filo (knee) did not practice and has not since before Week 2. Head coach Zac Taylor already stated that Jackson Carman will start at right guard again this week.

Higgins and Awuzie returning to the practice field is huge even if they didn’t do everything on Wednesday. There are still two more practices for each of them to get a full session in before the weekend. Bates appears completely fine after being held out of action on a short week.

Stanley Morgan (ribs), Larry Ogunjobi (knee) and Mike Thomas (ankle) were also limited Wednesday. Ogunjobi notably suffered his injury on last week’s crucial goal-line stand, but he did play most of the game after that. Akeem Davis-Gaither (trap) also went full.

Joe Mixon (ankle) is the guy to keep an eye on. Mixon is reportedly week-to-week with an ankle sprain, but Taylor did not confirm that report. He was scheduled to not practice early this week, so we’ll see if he gets more work in the coming days.

D’Ante Smith (illness) also did not practice, as well as Trey Hopkins (knee), who got a veteran’s rest day.

Bengals injury report

bengals.com

The big news for the Green Bay Packers is the Jaire Alexander (shoulder) situation. There are talks of whether or not the Pro Bowl cornerback could undergo surgery for his injury. Packers head coach Matt LeFleur did say that Alexander is “most likely” out this week regardless of what they decide to do with him. Alexander obviously did not practice Wednesday.

O-linemen Elgton Jenkins (ankle) and Josh Myers (finger) also did not practice Wednesday. Jenkins injured his ankle during Green Bay’s Week 2 victory over the Detroit Lions and hasn’t played since. Myers is a rookie center out of Ohio State who has started all four of Green Bay’s games this year.

Plenty of other Packers were limited Wednesday, including DL Jack Heflin (ankle), RB Aaron Jones (ankle), CB Kevin King (concussion), and LB Chauncey Rivers (knee).

Packers injury report

bengals.com