Zac Taylor gives health updates on Tee Higgins, Trey Hendrickson

The Cincinnati Bengals (4-8) are back to work and will begin preparing for one of their biggest games of the season on Dec. 7 in Buffalo.

A win over the Bills (8-4) keeps the Bengals’ postseason hopes alive. Losing in Buffalo would make it extremely difficult for the Bengals to get in.

Realistically, the shot the Bengals have at making the playoffs is winning the AFC North. In order to do so, Cincinnati needs to win out and get help from the Ravens and Steelers along the way.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor provided injury updates as the team begins preparation for Buffalo.Wide receiver Tee Higgins remains in concussion protocol. For Higgins to play against the Bills, he must clear the NFL’s protocol. His practice availability this week will forecast his availability against the Bills. The team begins practice for Buffalo on Dec. 3.

Cincinnati is likely to be without defensive end Trey Hendrickson for another game. Taylor said Hendrickson is “doubtful” to play in Buffalo. Hendrickson has missed the Bengals’ last four games with a hip/pelvis injury.

When asked if there was any thought of putting Hendrickson on the injured reserve list, Taylor said the plan is to keep taking things “week to week” with Hendrickson.

With Hendrickson in line to miss another game, the Bengals will continue to rely on edge rushers Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy as starters.

Taylor was reluctant to say if Hendrickson will return this season. Following the Bengals’ Week 14 game in Buffalo, the team only has four games left. The result of the next two games for the Bengals could play a role in the decision whether Hendrickson plays again in Cincinnati or not.

“We’ll just keep taking it week to week,” Taylor said when asked if Hendrickson will play again this season.

Hendrickson and the Bengals were unable to come to an agreement on a long-term deal after two years of failed contract negotiations. To ensure Hendrickson played this season, the Bengals agreed to give him a bump in pay, bringing his annual salary from $14 million to $30 million.

Right now, Taylor said, Hendrickson is spending most of his time with the Bengals’ training staff.

Rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart is currently on injured reserve with a knee injury and would be eligible to return next week if he’s medically cleared. Taylor is waiting to see how Stewart comes through this week before setting any timeline for his first-round pick to return.

“We’ll see where it ends up next week,” Taylor said of Stewart.

If the Bengals win in Buffalo and get Stewart and Hendrickson back, it could be a huge boost for a defense that’s shown improvement in the last two games.

Taylor also touched on the health of his star quarterback who returned from a Grade 3 turf toe injury that required surgery and helped guide the Bengals to a win in Baltimore on Thanksgiving.

Joe Burrow didn’t suffer any setbacks against the Ravens in Baltimore, according to Taylor.

And that in itself is a win for the Bengals.

“Seemingly fine. I’m sure there is some soreness there that I’m sure you guys can ask him but to my eye, fine,” Taylor said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Zac Taylor gives health updates on Tee Higgins, Trey Hendrickson