The Bengals kept pace in the race for the AFC North title yesterday with a win, despite being without two of their starting wideouts during most the contest. Tyler Boyd suffered a finger injury on the Bengals’ first drive, and was unable to return. 
The veteran is dealing with a dislocated finger, and should miss one or two weeks as a result, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). Pain tolerance will become a key factor in determining when he is able to return, something which will be welcomed in Cincinnati given Boyd’s continued importance to their passing attack.
The 28-year-old has recorded 655 yards and four touchdowns on 45 receptions in 2022, despite competition for targets from Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Boyd’s 14.6 yards-per-catch average is the highest mark of his career, and he has been a consistent producer during the time missed by the other two dynamic pass-catchers. Signed to a four-year extension in 2019, Boyd’s place in the team’s pecking order should remain unchallenged in the coming years given his contributions throughout his career.
Chase’s return last week gave the Bengals their full array of starters at WR, but that status will be short-lived if Boyd misses time. The former has picked up where he left off prior to his own absence, totaling 216 yards in the past two games. Part of the reason for his season-high 15 targets yesterday, however, was another notable injury suffered at the position.
Higgins felt an issue with his hamstring during warmups, head coach Zac Taylor said after the game. That limited the 2020 second-rounder to one snap in the win over the Browns, but no updates have been provided with respect to his Week 15 availability. Chase and Higgins will be counted on more in the passing game if Boyd does indeed miss time, but a repeat of Sunday would be in order if the latter two are sidelined once again. The 9-4 Bengals visit the the Buccaneers next week in what will represent another opportunity for them to extend their win streak and potentially overtake the Ravens for the division lead.
Close to 70% catch ratio, 14.6 yards per catch: Boyd is elite.
Probably gone after next year if not sooner. Bengals have a lot of players that need to be signed and paying 10 million to a #3 WR isn’t going to happen. I expect him and Nixon not to play out their current contracts
According Dave Lapham, he had a compound fracture (the bone came through the skin) of the finger and had to have surgery on it before the game was over. The goal with the quick surgery was to avoid the possibility of an infection.
Maybe. Maybe not. The big question is whether they can keep Higgins after 2023. That dude is gonna command somewhere in the realm of $25M/yr.
If they can’t figure out how to keep him (and they probably can’t), the chances of Boyd re-signing increase.
Exactly. Higgins won’t get anywhere near 25 million. Maybe 20. He’s the #2 receiver. The Bengals would be stupid to pay him that much. You do that, be prepared to pay Chase 30. They have some major decisions coming up. Somebody has to go. Probably 2 or 3 guys
Do what Pittsburgh does. Trade good WR away before they become free agents and draft more with the draft picks.
This applies to Boyd and Higgins, not Chase of course. Chase will stay at a reasonable discount to keep playing with college buddy and CFP co-champion Joe Burrow. Plus Chase is worth more in Cincinnati than anywhere else in the NFL, because of that rapport.
Generally I’d rather have Justin Jefferson on a rookie contract, than Stefon Diggs on a vet star contract (Buffalo traded a 1st, 4th and 5th round draft pick for Diggs to Minnesota who used the 1st round pick on Justin Jefferson).
The Steelers do it right. There’s future great WR entering the NFL every year in rounds two to four. Don’t get too attached to any given WR. The first four or five years are usually half of a WR’s best years.
You are a fool if you think Chase will take less money. His agent won’t allow that. It’s not like they’re life partners. Devante Adams sure didn’t take less. I don’t know anyone that has taken less to play with a college teammate