Bengals WR depth chart: How Tee Higgins injury, Ja'Marr Chase status impact Cincinnati's Week 1 options

Daniel Mader

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Bengals WR depth chart: How Tee Higgins injury, Ja'Marr Chase status impact Cincinnati's Week 1 options image

The Bengals are entering Week 1 with some massive question marks at wide receiver.

While Joe Burrow is healthy and looking to lead Cincinnati back to the playoffs, it's unclear who his top targets in the passing game will be to start the new season. 

The statuses of the Bengals' top two receivers, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, are both currently up in the air, but for different reasons.

Here's an updated look at Cincinnati's WR depth chart to see who could step up in Chase or Higgins' potential absences, plus the latest updates on the duo. 

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Bengals WR depth chart

1. Ja'Marr Chase

Chase remains one of the game's best wideouts after posting his third-straight 1,000-plus yard season to start his career in 2023. 

However, there are major concerns about the availability of Burrow's No. 1 target in Week 1. Chase, waiting on a new contract from Cincinnati, hasn't shown up consistently throughout camp and has remained limited at practices he was present for.

If he's not on the field Sunday, the Bengals will be without arguably their best player, and they'd have to look further down the depth chart for production. 

The most recent updates on Chase are below. 

2. Tee Higgins

The 25-year-old Higgins is undoubtedly Cincinnati's WR2 behind Chase, assuming both of their availability. But, just like Chase, that availability is in question.

Higgins has reportedly dealt with a hamstring injury recently, which could hamper his ability to play early in the season. It poses another challenge for Burrow and the offense, as the fifth-year WR has over 75 targets in every season of his career so far. 

The latest information on Higgins' Week 1 status is below.

3. Andrei Iosivas

Second-year WR Andrei Iosivas looks to be Cincinnati's third option on the receiving depth chart for the time being, as he's drawn some buzz in camp.

Iosivas had 15 receptions for 116 yards and four touchdowns in 2023 after being drafted in the sixth round in 2023. The Princeton product looked poised to start in the slot for the Bengals this season. 

All of a sudden, he could be Burrow's top target if both Chase and Higgins can't go in Week 1. 

4. Jermaine Burton

A third-round pick out of Alabama, Jermaine Burton was set to be a depth piece for Burrow, but like Iosivas and the others on this list, he could be thrown into the starting mix pretty quickly.

Without experience at the NFL level and with questions about his work ethic in the past, Burton might still have a ways to go in his development. 

However, head coach Zac Taylor may not have a choice but to start Burton against the Patriots on Sunday. 

5. Trenton Irwin

Contrary to Burton, Irwin provides more of a veteran presence in the Cincinnati WR room. 

He's entering his fifth NFL season, all of them with the Bengals, which has likely helped him build some chemistry with Burrow. Irwin, though, has just 586 yards in his career thus far.

It wouldn't be shocking to see Irwin on the field more often than Burton this season due to his experience, but for now, he remains lower on the depth chart. 

6. Charlie Jones

As a rookie in 2023, Charlie Jones played in 11 games, but had just seven receptions for 64 yards.

Whether Cincinnati gets production from Chase and/or Higgins in Week 1 or not, Jones likely won't be a starter. However, he could still see an increase in snaps without the pair of stars.

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Tee Higgins injury update

On Friday, Higgins was listed as doubtful by the Bengals for Sunday's matchup with the Patriots. 

However, Higgins said recently this is "the best he's felt" going into Week 1 in his career, causing confusion for why he's limited in practice. 

With his doubtful status, it seems likely that one or all of Iosivas, Burton and Irwin will have larger roles on Sunday. 

Will Ja'Marr Chase play in Week 1?

Meanwhile, Chase still has not received his desired contract from the Bengals. 

The team listed him as questionable for Sunday's game. Chase recently spoke to the media, saying he believes Friday is a deadline to get a deal done but also thinks the sides will come to an agreement, per Adam Schefter.

Chase also called himself a "game-time decision" for Sunday despite the team calling his status questionable.

There still isn't a clear sign if Chase will play on Sunday or not, but the Bengals could certainly use him if Higgins is on the sidelines with his injury.

Daniel Mader

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Daniel Mader joined Sporting News as an editorial intern in 2024 following his graduation from Penn State University. Previously, he covered Penn State, high school and local sports beats for NBC Sports, the Centre Daily Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Daily Collegian and LancasterOnline. He grew up in Lancaster, Penn., with a love for baseball that’ll never fade, but could also talk basketball or football for days.