Ja'Marr Chase is in the concussion protocol and Tee Higgins is day to day as Cincinnati faces Miami with two healthy receivers

Cincinnati's receiver room is in trouble heading into Week 5. Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed Monday that Ja'Marr Chase is in the NFL's concussion protocol after leaving Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and reports out of Cincinnati indicate he is likely to remain in the protocol for most, if not all, of the week. Tee Higgins, who was hurt in the final minutes of the same game, is day to day with an adductor injury, and Taylor left the door open for him to play against the Miami Dolphins.

With Andrei Iosivas on injured reserve and rookie Colbie Young also sidelined, the Bengals are reportedly down to two other healthy wide receivers, Dohnte Meyers and Mitchell Tinsley. That is a stark change for a passing offense that just produced 428 yards in a losing effort.

How Chase and Higgins got hurt

Chase's injury came on a violent second-quarter sequence. After a catch, Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones dragged him down by the facemask, drawing a penalty, and Chase took another hit from linebacker Ventrell Miller on the way to the turf. He was evaluated, ruled out with a concussion, and missed the entire second half. He finished with three catches for 27 yards.

Higgins carried the offense after that. He finished with 11 catches for 157 yards on 16 targets before suffering the adductor injury after a catch in the closing minutes. Joe Burrow completed 39 of 54 passes for 428 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, and added a rushing touchdown. Tight end Mike Gesicki caught his third touchdown of the season. Cincinnati's final drive ended when a fourth-down pass to running back Chase Brown was ruled short of the line to gain at the Jacksonville 12 with 50 seconds left.

What the concussion protocol requires

There is no fixed timeline for a concussion. Chase has to progress through all five phases of the league's protocol, including a full practice without recurring signs or symptoms, and then be cleared by both the team physician and an independent neurological consultant before he can play. Some players clear within a week, others take longer. Taylor's comments suggested Cincinnati does not expect a quick resolution, which puts Chase's Week 5 status in real doubt.

Higgins' situation is more hopeful. Adductor strains vary widely in severity, but a day-to-day label from the head coach the morning after the injury usually means the team has not ruled out a same-week return. His practice participation on Wednesday and Thursday will tell the story.

Fantasy fallout

Ja'Marr Chase: Managers should plan for the possibility that he misses Week 5 and line up a replacement now. If he clears the protocol by the end of the week, he goes right back into lineups as a WR1, but Taylor's tone did not suggest that is the likely outcome.

Tee Higgins: He is the most important name to watch. If he plays, he could be in line for a massive target share given the lack of healthy alternatives, and he just showed what that looks like with 16 targets on Sunday. The risk is an adductor that flares up mid-game, so managers should have a backup plan if he is listed as questionable.

Joe Burrow: A 428-yard game proves the volume is there, but a receiver room of Meyers and Tinsley, with or without Higgins, is a significant downgrade in target quality. Burrow stays a starter in most formats against a winless Miami team, but his ceiling shrinks if both Chase and Higgins sit.

Mike Gesicki: The tight end is the most obvious beneficiary if the receiver room is short-handed. He already has three touchdowns, and he becomes a reliable intermediate target in a thin room. He is a strong streaming option at tight end if Chase is ruled out.

Chase Brown: Expect more short passes to the running back if Cincinnati lacks downfield options. Brown's receiving work raises his floor, especially in PPR formats.

Dohnte Meyers and Mitchell Tinsley: Both are deep-league adds only. If Chase and Higgins both miss Week 5, one of them will see real snaps and targets by necessity, but neither has a proven track record. They are emergency options, not weekly plays.

What to do in your league

Keep Chase on your roster no matter what; concussions are typically short-term absences. Move him to the bench or an injury slot if your league allows it once his status is clear, and do not panic-trade him at a discount.

Start Higgins if he is active, because his target share would be enormous. If he is listed as questionable for the late-week report, consider pairing him with a reliable backup, particularly if your league allows late swaps.

Streaming Gesicki makes sense for managers with a weak tight end. Burrow remains a starter, though managers in deep quarterback leagues might consider alternatives if both star receivers are out.

What's next

Wednesday's practice report is the first look at Chase's progress through the protocol and Higgins' adductor. The Bengals could also add receiver depth this week, either from the practice squad or free agency, given how thin the room is. Cincinnati, 2-2, visits the winless Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. ET. The model's full card for the game is available at /nfl/predictions.