Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins Listed as Ready for Bengals at Dolphins, Cook Also Set

The Bengals’ offensive picture for Sunday against the Dolphins got clearer in the team’s pregame quick hits, with Ja’Marr and Tee flagged as “a go,” and Cook also indicated to be available. For Joe Burrow, those availability notes matter because they shape both the early-down rhythm and the mid-game adjustments, especially when the passing game needs continuity rather than reshuffling routes on the fly.

Ja’Marr, one of Cincinnati’s primary deep and intermediate threats, is listed as ready, which indicates the Bengals intend to lean into the long-range elements of their offense even on the road. Tee Higgins being “a go” similarly points to the Bengals keeping a high-end target in the slot-to-intermediate areas, where the quarterback timing often depends on a receiver’s presence more than any schematic tweak.

The Bengals’ pregame rundown also included Cook among the players expected to suit up. In modern NFL planning, that kind of note usually means the coaching staff is comfortable returning to its standard package usage, rather than slimming play-calling down to manage absence or uncertainty.

Sunday’s setting adds another layer. Hard Rock Stadium, known for its large and loud crowds, can compress a team’s margin for error, particularly on third downs and in red-zone possessions. When key receivers are confirmed to be available, Burrow’s staff can keep their timing-based answers, including designed crossers, boundary concepts, and the quick game that often stabilizes drives when defensive looks shift.

For the Dolphins, that availability news carries a straightforward implication. If Cincinnati’s top pass-catchers are on the field, Miami can’t plan as though it will win matchups simply by forcing a new rotation of receivers. The Bengals’ best stretches usually come when Burrow can repeatedly find the same trustworthy targets, and when the receiving corps can build chemistry across multiple series.

The pregame quick hits were presented as operational updates for the day, not a deep dive into injuries or long-term status. As with any team-listed “ready” designation, the next checkpoints are the inactives for the game and the on-field execution once the first drive begins. If all three players are active, the Bengals will enter the matchup with the kind of offensive continuity that allows them to play from their base identity.

What to watch next is simple: whether Cincinnati’s first drive reflects a full pass-catcher rotation, and whether Burrow’s targets distribute in the expected lanes between Ja’Marr, Higgins, and Cook. If those early reads hold, it sets up the broader question for the rest of the day, can Miami keep the Bengals from building drive momentum through the air, or will Cincinnati use its ready receivers to stretch the field and control tempo?