Team news: Cincinnati Bengals | Page 4

In his first public comments since June, Colts’ RB Jonathan Taylor told reporters: “It feels really good to be healthy. The main goal was to be healthy and play football.” Taylor is physically ready to play.

Related Players: Zack Moss

We're still waiting to hear something concrete on his role in the offense for Week 5, but it sure seems like he will be out there. Expect a split backfield right out of the gate, but Taylor should have a majority role with Moss spelling him.

Colts’ RB Jonathan Taylor was listed today as a full participant in practice.

Related Players: Zack Moss

Welp, I guess that's that? If Taylor is fully healthy and back with the team in a full capacity, nothing is keeping him from retaking hold of the backfield. We'll keep an eye on the situation, but it seems like business as usual with the Colts and the former fantasy stud.

Tee Higgins has not ruled out playing in Week 5 against Arizona, saying he’s “hopeful” to play. But if he’s not available for this week, then he plans to return for the Week 6 game against Seattle at home.

Higgins told reporters on Monday that he’s not anticipating being sidelined for long. Via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Higgins said that he landed wrong and fractured one rib and not multiple ribs. Higgins may be hopeful, but we can't always go by what a player says, so owners should definitely have another plan just in case Higgins is out for Week 5.

A report this weekend said that the Colts would open running back Jonathan Taylor’s window to return from the physically unable to perform list this week and head coach Shane Steichen confirmed it on Monday.

Related players: Zack Moss

Steichen said that the process will begin on Wednesday and that the plan is for Taylor to practice with the team for the first time this year. Taylor also requested a trade this offseason because the team has not shown interest in giving him the long-term contract he wants, but Steichen said Taylor is excited about getting back to work with the team. Steichen also said that Taylor could play in Week 5 against the Titans and that how Taylor looks on the practice field will determine whether that happens, the story went on to say. What a strange situation this has turned into. Owners should monitor his progress this week. One would assume if Taylor is ready to go he could at least be a flex option in lineups, but there's a lot of information we'll need between now and then. The Colts host the Titans in an early game in Week 5.

Falcons HC Arthur Smith tells reporters that Desmond Ridder remains the starting QB.

Related players: Taylor Heinicke, Logan Woodside

Ridder threw for just 191 yards and added two interceptions to his totals against the Jags on Sunday morning in the first London game of the season. The Jags led 17-0 at the half forcing the Falcons to come out throwing and play catch-up during the second half. The Falcons host the Texans in Week 5. Those in deeper leagues or superflex leagues may want to think about making some room for Heinicke if he's on your wire as Ridder could be one more bad start away from a benching.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins has a fractured rib.

Related players: Tyler Boyd, Trenton Irwin, Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones

Rapoport didn't have a lot more details about the injury, nor did he have a specific timeline. But, he did point out the Bengals are at the Cardinals and home against the Seahawks the next two weeks before a Week 7 bye. It's possible Higgins isn't back until after the team's bye, which is a Week 8 game at the 49ers. Boyd should see a bigger role with any time Higgins has to miss.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins suffered a rib fracture during Sunday's loss to the Titans.

Higgins will almost certainly miss at least a little bit of time as a result. The injury happened just before halftime. He finished with 19 yards on two catches in what was a nightmare day for the Bengals in a 27-3 loss to drop last year's AFC runners-up to 1-3. If Higgins does miss time, rookie Andrei Iosivas or Trenton Irwin could step up in his place outside of Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans and Bengals WR Tee Higgins have both left their games Sunday with hamstring and rib injuries, respectively.

Evans had 40 yards on three catches while Higgins finished with 19 yards on two catches. Evans tried to return for the second half and was on the bike trying to get back into the game but wound up returning to the locker room. For Higgins, a tough start to the season continues. He had 10 catches for 110 yards coming into today's game but 8 catches and 89 yards came in Week 2 against the Ravens.

From all indications, Indianapolis Colts All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor appears ready to return to the playing field -- whether that happens in Indianapolis or elsewhere. “He looks great. And I can’t wait to actually physically get a chance to work with him, see him move around, see that speed and feel that speed,” Colts running backs coach DeAndre Smith said.

Related Players: Zack Moss

Even with Taylor eligible to return, that doesn't necessarily mean the team has to get him on the field, whether they want to trade him or they want to actually activate him from PUP. The preseason designation felt like a resolution, but there are still multiple paths that keep Taylor off the field for longer than one more game.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is expected to start against the Rams on Monday Night Football despite being less than 100 percent, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports.

Burrow strained his right calf on the second day of training camp and didn’t return from the injury until after the preseason. He has not played like himself thus far with 304 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception and aggravated his injury late in the Week 2 loss to the Ravens. He was a limited participant in Friday’s and Saturday’s practices, the story said.