Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins Expected to Play vs. Dolphins

Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins Expected to Play vs. Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins will have their hands full Sunday afternoon when they host the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium, as Cincinnati’s two superstar wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, are expected to play despite dealing with injuries throughout the week.

According to a Sunday morning report attributed to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, both receivers are expected to be available for Cincinnati’s Week 5 matchup against Miami. The news would be a significant boost for the Bengals’ offense and another challenge for a Dolphins team still searching for its first victory of the 2026 season.

Both players entered the weekend listed as questionable on Cincinnati’s official injury report, but each returned to full participation in Friday’s practice. Their final availability remains subject to the team’s official pregame inactive announcement.

Chase and Higgins Battled Injuries All Week

Chase suffered a concussion during Cincinnati’s Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, forcing him to exit the contest and enter the NFL’s concussion protocol.

The five-time Pro Bowl receiver has been one of the Bengals’ most dangerous offensive weapons, recording 21 receptions for 212 yards and three touchdowns through the first four games.

Higgins, meanwhile, suffered an adductor injury during the same game against Jacksonville. Before leaving the contest, Higgins delivered an outstanding performance, catching 11 passes for 157 yards.

Despite the injuries, both receivers made enough progress during the week to participate fully in Friday’s practice, providing optimism that Cincinnati could have its top two pass catchers on the field against Miami.

What This Means for the Dolphins Defense

For Miami, Chase and Higgins’ expected availability makes an already difficult matchup even tougher.

The Dolphins enter Sunday’s game at 0-4, while Cincinnati sits at 2-2 after dropping its previous two contests.

With both receivers available, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has two legitimate game-changing weapons capable of taking over a game.

Chase possesses elite speed, explosiveness, and the ability to turn short receptions into significant gains. Higgins presents a different challenge with his size, physicality, and ability to win contested catches.

Defending both receivers simultaneously will test Miami’s secondary and put additional pressure on the Dolphins’ pass rush to disrupt Burrow’s timing.

For Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley, limiting explosive passing plays will be one of the biggest keys to Sunday’s game.

Miami cannot afford to allow Cincinnati’s offense to consistently generate big plays downfield, particularly if the Dolphins struggle to put points on the scoreboard themselves.

Miami Must Find a Way to Pressure Joe Burrow

One potential equalizer for Miami will be its ability to generate pressure without consistently sending extra defenders.

If the Dolphins can pressure Burrow with their defensive front, they can devote additional coverage resources to Chase and Higgins.

Second-year pass rusher Chop Robinson will be among the players Miami needs to make an impact.

The Dolphins must also tackle effectively in the open field. Allowing Chase to turn a short completion into a 40-yard gain or giving Higgins opportunities to consistently move the chains would make Sunday’s assignment much harder.

With Cincinnati looking to end a two-game losing streak, the Bengals will undoubtedly view Sunday’s matchup against winless Miami as an opportunity to get their offense back on track.

Dolphins Face Another Major Test

While Miami has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, those encouraging developments have yet to translate into a victory.

Sunday offers another chance for Hafley’s young team to show progress against a talented opponent.

However, with Chase and Higgins expected to suit up, there is little question that the Dolphins will be facing one of the NFL’s most dangerous receiving combinations.

The Bengals would have faced a considerably different offensive challenge had one or both receivers been unavailable.

Instead, Miami must prepare for Cincinnati at something much closer to full strength.

If the Dolphins are going to pull off the upset and earn their first win of the season, slowing down Chase, Higgins, and Burrow will be essential.

The Dolphins and Bengals kick off Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, and FOX will televise the game.