MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins better be prepared to face at least member of the NFL’s best receiving duos in Sunday’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ja’Marr Chase, who suffered a concussion in last Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, participated in Thursday’s practice. While his involvement was limited, returning to practice is the second step of the NFL’s four-step concussion protocol.

NFL players must participate in a non-contact practice without experiencing any lingering effects of their concussions, and then have a practice with contact without experiencing concussion symptoms to gain clearance to participate in the upcoming game.

That means if Chase participates in Friday’s Bengals practice he’ll likely gain the clearance needed to suit up Sunday against the Dolphins. His game status will be clarified on Friday evening.

The Bengals would clearly benefit from having the five-time Pro Bowler on the field considering Tee Higgins, Cincinnati’s other star receiver, remains sidelined by a groin and neck injury he suffered last week.

“They’re elite players. Any time you’re going up against a top-tier player in this league, you got to account for them,” defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said about preparing for Cincinnati’s two Pro Bowl receivers. “Plans change, but that’s our job. We’re going to develop a plan, and you’ve got to adapt or die.”

Chase, who has averaged 86 receiving yards per game, and 13 yards per reception in the 82 games he’s played over the past six seasons, has caught 21 of the 28 passes thrown his way this season, turning those receptions into 212 yards and three touchdowns.

Higgins, who has caught 25 passes for 401 yards and one touchdown in the past four games, is averaging 100.3 receiving yards per game this season.

Colbie Young, a former University of Miami and Georgia standout the Bengals selected in the fourth-round of the 2026 draft, Dohnte Meyers, a former CFL standout playing in his first NFL season, and Mitch Tinsley, who returned to the Bengals two weeks ago after being poached of the Houston Texans practice squad, are the three receivers who would likely serve as Chase and Higgins’ replacements if one, or both are held out of Sunday’s game.

Former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki serves as Cincinnati’s slot receiver, entering the game on obvious passing downs while Drew Sample serves as the Bengals in-line tight end. It should be pointed out that the Dolphins have struggled covering tight ends this season.

There’s also a possibility injuries could sideline, if not limit three of the Bengals’ starting defensive linemen.

Jonathan Allen, a 10-year veteran who has contributed 12 tackles and two sacks in the season’s first four games, is nursing a knee injury that has kept him from participating in Cincinnati’s past two practices.

Dexter Lawrence, a three-time Pro Bowler who is viewed as Cincinnati’s best defender, has a wrist injury that is limiting his practice participation. However, there’s a strong possibility that Lawrence could play Sunday’s game with his injured wrist in a cast.

B.J. Hill, who serves as Allen and Lawrence’s backup, is nursing an Achilles injury that limited his participation in Thursday’s practice.

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