Bengals’ Waynes and Higgins are question marks vs. Steelers
On Friday, 556 days after cornerback Trae Waynes signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, he participated in his most extensive game-week practice with the team.
Waynes missed the entire 2020 season with a pectoral injury. Then he injured his hamstring near the end of the preseason this year, which cost him the first two games of the season.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Waynes doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But this week, Waynes has looked ready to contribute.
“It looks like (Waynes) is going way faster than he should in terms of recovery time,” Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie said. “We’ll be excited to see what he does because Trae is known to be a top corner in this game. So I know he’s going to come out all guns blazing, making plays, making tackles, doing all the things he usually does.”
Waynes was one of the best-tackling corners in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings in 2019, and the Bengals signed him in 2020 to help stabilize the secondary. According to Spotrac, Waynes is the 10th highest paid cornerback in the NFL.
Backup cornerback Eli Apple has struggled filling in. In Week 1, Apple missed a tackle down the right sideline and allowed a touchdown catch. In Week 2, he committed defensive pass interference on a deep pass and cost the Bengals field position on the Chicago Bears’ only touchdown drive.
But even if Waynes makes his Bengals debut Sunday, Apple will still play a role. Since Waynes is working his way back from his hamstring injury, he likely wouldn’t play every snap.
“If he’s ready to go on Sunday, it’d be a limited snap count where you just see how he plays,” Taylor said.
Tee Higgins availability a game-day decision
Tee Higgins appeared to play through a shoulder injury in Week 2 after heading to the medical tent during the second half. He finished the game with six receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown. This week, Higgins missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday but returned to the field Friday. Taylor said Higgins’ availability will be decided on Sunday depending on the soreness of Higgins’ shoulder.