Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase Suspended for Game Against Patriots

The Bengals will be missing Ja’Marr Chase in their upcoming game against the Patriots due to a one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct. This comes after a recent altercation that led to Chase being involved in an incident where he was accused of spitting at Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Chase has denied the accusations, insisting, “I never spoke to that guy. I didn’t spit on anyone,” following their 34-12 defeat. The scuffle occurred early in the fourth quarter when Ramsey swung at Chase and grabbed his helmet.

Ramsey, however, claimed that Chase did spit on him. He expressed his frustration, saying, “He spat on me, so it’s over. With all due respect, I don’t give a damn about the football after that.” While Ramsey stood by his claims, referee Bill Vinovich stated he didn’t witness any such action, indicating, “Obviously we weren’t. We just didn’t see anything that got to that level.”

On Monday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor shared that he had a conversation with Chase regarding the incident. Taylor noted his admiration for Chase’s ability to maintain composure under pressure. “I’ve always been impressed with the way he handles himself in high-stress situations,” Taylor remarked, “but obviously what happened crossed the line.” He acknowledged that there are boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed and suggested that Chase understands that as well.

In financial terms, the suspension is a hefty blow for Chase. According to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the penalty will cost him around $448,333, plus a $58,823 bonus. This isn’t the first incident of this kind; earlier in the season, Eagles tackle Jalen Carter faced a similar fate when he was ejected for spitting at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the NFL opener.