Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown and wide receiver Tee Higgins are listed as questionable to play on Saturday night in the season finale against the host Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brown has failed to participate in practice both days this week while nursing an ankle injury. Higgins is dealing with ankle and knee ailments.
The Bengals (8-8) need to beat the Steelers (10-6) and have the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins lose their respective games in order to qualify the playoffs.
Brown sustained a right ankle injury late in the fourth quarter in Cincinnati’s 30-24 overtime victory over the visiting Broncos last Saturday. He ran 5 yards but hurt himself when he intentionally slid at the 1-yard line in an attempt to keep the clock moving. After his injury stopped the clock, Joe Burrow ran it in for a score on the next play with 1:29 left in the game.
The Broncos then scored the tying touchdown with eight seconds to play, and Khalil Herbert took Brown’s place in the backfield.
Brown, 24, has rushed for 990 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has 54 receptions for 360 yards and four scores.
On Thursday, the Bengals signed running back Kendall Milton off the practice squad. He will join Herbert and Trayveon Williams on the roster behind Brown.
Higgins, 25, is coming off his best performance of the season. He reeled in 11 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns against the Broncos, including the winning 3-yard scoring strike in overtime.
Higgins has 69 catches for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Cincinnati defensive end Sam Hubbard has been ruled out with a knee injury, while tight end Drew Sample (groin), wide receiver Charlie Jones (groin), cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (ankle) and offensive tackle Amarius Mims (ankle, hand) are deemed questionable for Saturday’s game.
