Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are traveling in different directions on the injury report. While Chase finally arrived at practice this week after a lengthy holdout, Higgins is a surprise limited participant (hamstring) for Friday's walkthrough. Chase is expected to play, while late adds to the injury report usually signal a player will be questionable heading into their matchup.

Once Cincinnati's released their final injury report, Higgins' worst fears were revealed. He is listed as doubtful with his hamstring injury, while Chase is listed as questionable, via Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Higgins told reporters after practice that his hamstring, “feels good,” via Ben Baby of ESPN. However, his injury report distinction tells a different story. Perhaps Higgins has a mirculous recovery, but he is looking unlikely to play in Week 1.

Throughout the week, Chase has had positive updates since first attending practice on Wednesday. He now seems likely to receive a contract offer  in a matter of days, it's just bad luck for Tee Higgins to be saddled with another hamstring issue.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) talk on the sideline in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 3 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at Paycor Stadium.
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The Bengals are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2023 season that ended with a 9-8 record and a last-place finish in the AFC North. It didn't help that Joe Burrow, who had a wrist injury, was out from Week 11 for the rest of the season.

A reset season is much needed. Maybe that's why Burrow showed up this offseason with bleached blond hair.

“Yeah, I mean we're just going to let it grow out at this point,” Burrow said. “It will be a little frosted tips here in a couple weeks, back to what my normal hair looks like. Then just a little blonde, I think it will look good.”

Higgins is playing on a franchise tag, which pays him $21.8M this season. He'll be a free agent next season as it seems unlikely the Bengals will opt to re-sign him.

On the other hand, Chase will likely receive a four-year contract extension any day now that will keep him in Cincinnati for years to come.