Week 16 Inactives: Tee Higgins, Marvin Harrison Jr. and More Headline Injury News As the NFL regular season winds down, teams are dealing with a rash of key injuries heading into the critical final stretch. Week 16 will see several star players ruled out, creating opportunities for backups to step up and impact the playoff race. The headline inactives this week include Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and Ohio State rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Cleveland Browns. Both dynamic pass-catchers are dealing with concerning injuries that will sideline them for at least this Sunday's games. Higgins, the Bengals' No. 2 receiver behind Ja'Marr Chase, suffered a hamstring injury in last week's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The third-year pro has been a breakout star this season, racking up 1,115 yards and 7 touchdowns. His absence is a major blow to the Bengals' passing attack as they look to keep pace with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor announced that Higgins will not play in Sunday's pivotal matchup with the New England Patriots. "It's unfortunate, but we have to be smart with these things," Taylor told reporters. "We want Tee back healthy for the stretch run." The Bengals will rely more on Tyler Boyd, Trenton Irwin and others to pick up the slack in the passing game. For the Browns, the loss of Marvin Harrison Jr. is equally impactful. The rookie wideout has emerged as a top target for quarterback Deshaun Watson, hauling in 53 catches for 749 yards and 5 touchdowns. Harrison's chemistry with Watson has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing Browns season. However, Harrison suffered a toe injury in last week's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that the first-round pick will miss Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. "It's always tough to lose a player of Marvin's caliber," Stefanski said. "We have confidence in our other receivers to step up, but Marvin is a special talent." The absences of Higgins and Harrison Jr. are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to key inactives this week. Across the league, several other star players have been ruled out or are considered game-time decisions. In New York, the Giants will be without starting running back Saquon Barkley as he continues to recover from a neck injury. Barkley, an MVP candidate early in the season, has missed the last two games and is not expected to play against the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Eve. His backup, Matt Breida, will shoulder the load in the Giants' backfield. Elsewhere, the Kansas City Chiefs will likely be without wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is in the concussion protocol following a hit last week. Smith-Schuster has been a key cog in the Chiefs' potent passing attack, so his potential absence is a significant concern as Patrick Mahomes and company prepare to face the Seattle Seahawks. The Los Angeles Rams, meanwhile, will be without star wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who suffered a high-ankle sprain in last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers. Kupp, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, is the centerpiece of the Rams' offense, so his absence will be a major challenge as the defending champions try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive against the Denver Broncos. In other notable injury news, the Las Vegas Raiders will be without star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, who was placed in the concussion protocol after last week's game. Crosby, a vital part of the Raiders' defense, will miss their crucial matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers as both teams jockey for position in the AFC playoff race. The rash of high-profile inactives underscores the physical toll of the NFL season and the importance of depth on playoff-contending rosters. As teams push for the postseason, managing injuries and getting key players healthy will be paramount. The next man up mentality will be put to the test as backups look to make their mark. For the Bengals, Browns, Giants, Chiefs, Rams, and Raiders, the ability to overcome these key absences could be the difference between securing a playoff berth or missing out on the postseason entirely. Fans and analysts will be closely monitoring the status of these injured stars in the coming days, eager to see how their teams respond to the adversity. Ultimately, Week 16's rash of inactives serves as a stark reminder of the physical rigors of the NFL season. As teams jockey for playoff positioning, managing injuries and getting healthy at the right time will be crucial. The next man up will have to step up in a big way, as the stakes continue to rise in the final stretch of the regular season.