Bengals' Tee Higgins Returns to Concussion Protocol

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has returned to concussion protocol just days after clearing it to play in a crucial loss to the Buffalo Bills, raising fresh concerns about his health and the team's fading playoff hopes.

Higgins, a 26-year-old star who missed the Bengals' Thanksgiving Day victory over the Baltimore Ravens on November 27 due to a concussion suffered four days earlier against the New England Patriots, had been cleared to play by Friday. He suited up for Sunday's game at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, where snowy and icy conditions complicated play. The Bengals fell 39-34 in a high-scoring affair, dropping their record to a point where they must win their final four games and receive help from rivals like the Pittsburgh Steelers to reach the postseason.

During the contest, Higgins endured at least two hard hits that sent his head slamming into the frozen turf. The first came in the second quarter while attempting a catch near the sideline; he lay on the ground briefly, pointed to his head, and was escorted to the medical tent for evaluation. He passed the checks and returned, later scoring on a one-handed grab in the end zone that extended Cincinnati's...