Bengals leading WR Tee Higgins not playing vs. Steelers, who will start OLB Jamir Jones

Leading receiver Tee Higgins is among three Cincinnati Bengals starters who are not in uniform for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of injury.

Higgins, who has a shoulder injury, was officially listed as doubtful to play on the Bengals’ league-mandated injury report. Right guard Xavier Su’a-Filo (knee) was, too. Cincinnati had previously announced that cornerback Trae Waynes would not play because of a hamstring injury.

Former Steelers offensive lineman Fred Johnson joins defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin and cornerback Nick McCloud as the Bengals’ healthy scratches.

It had been previously known that the Steelers on Sunday would be without perennial NFL defensive player of the year candidate T.J. Watt. Watt suffered a groin injury early during last week’s home-opening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Injured on the final play of that game was receiver Diontae Johnson (knee). Johnson, outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) and defensive lineman Carlos Davis (knee) join Watt on the inactive list against the Bengals because of injury.

The Steelers healthy inactives are No. 3 quarterback Dwayne Haskins, reserve offensive lineman Rashaad Coward and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.

Acquired via trade at the conclusion of training camp, Witherspoon was scratched Week 1 and played sparingly in Week 2. He was running with Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs on Ruggs’ 61-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

With Watt and Highsmith out, Jamir Jones will make his first career start. Jones was a surprise during training camp, making the 53-man roster after being signed during a workout at Notre Dame’s Pro Day this spring.

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