The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver room was in the spotlight a little more than usual this week because of celebration fines and injury, but the team will be hoping the play of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and others Sunday, Sept. 27, at Pittsburgh is more attention-worthy.
As the Bengals spent time this week addressing how to replace injured No. 3 receiver Andrei Iosivas, top weapons Chase and Higgins learned they had received fines totaling almost $90,000 for six “offensive gesture” celebrations over the first two games.
Chase said they were doing a version of The Rock’s “People’s Elbow” in WWE. Both can afford the fines, but Chase said he would love to appeal.
“I think this is where the superstars have to get in with the NFLPA and fight for our money because if (San Francisco fullback Kyle Juszczyk) is getting fined for doing a drinking gesture, a juice gesture, then I mean, I’m getting fined for an elbow and doing the first down thing,” Chase said. “I mean, I can’t really do much about it. I mean, we could complain. I don’t even think we can tweet about it because we get fined for tweeting about it. So, it’s really like players got to keep their mouth shut and deal with it.”
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’marr Chase (1) catches a pass for a touchdown as Houston Texans safety Reed Blankenship, behind, and safety Calen Bullock (2) try to defend during the second half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.
Ashley Landis – AP
Asked if he and Higgins will stop doing the celebration, Chase said he didn’t know yet because it wasn’t the gesture others thought it was. He wondered if they could just tweak it.
“It was something different for us, something new, something we were trying to be unique with, and they just stopping the fun,” Chase said. “So, it is what it is.”
Chase did the celebration after both of his touchdowns last week at Houston, one of which arguably was the best play of his career after stumbling, twisting and making an acrobatic catch while dragging his feet in the front corner of the end zone.
When asked about the play, Chase said he didn’t have an opinion on where that stacks up among all-time great catches. He just cares that he scored.
The Bengals can almost always expect something great from Chase and Higgins, but now they will also be leaning on more from guys like rookie Colbie Young and Dohnte Meyers to step up in Iosivas’ spot. Iosivas tore a thumb ligament Sunday at Houston and underwent surgery Wednesday, which will keep him out at least four weeks.
“Several guys that can step up, whether it’s in the receiver room, tight end room,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “There’s a lot of ways we’re going to fulfill that, but we have guys that will step up. They’re going to be given more opportunity and expect those guys to step up and fill those shoes.”
Although Iosivas had just three catches for 19 yards on four targets through the first two games, the Bengals knew what they could get from him as a veteran contributor. Quarterback Joe Burrow had built trust in Iosivas over the last three seasons and is just getting to know Young and Meyers.
Young made his first career catch last week and said he’s ready for more responsibility if called upon.
“I’ve always been staying ready, waiting for my number to be called, so right now it’s that time to step up in his place,” Young said. “He had a big role in this offense, so I got to be able to maintain that. I’ve been preparing for this my whole career so far, so I’m ready to go to work. Like I said, it’s so unfortunate that he’s down, and I’m praying for him and a speedy recovery.”
Cincinnati is ready to test a banged-up Steelers secondary. Cornerback Jamel Dean has been limited by an ankle injury this week, and Joey Porter Jr. has been limited due to conditioning issues that caused him to miss the first two games.
Nickel corner Jalen Ramsey is good to go, but Chase said there’s more to Pittsburgh’s defense to be concerned about than just the corners he could match up with Sunday.
“I don’t really watch too much of the corners because the majority of the time it’s a whole unit as a defense I got to read, but I’m going to look at those guys,” Chase said. “I still got to respect the game and look at them a little bit, but at the end of the day, I still got to adjust to what’s out there and what they’re doing.”
Burrow said he just needs receivers who will work hard, make plays and especially win 50/50 balls. He knows he can count on Chase and Higgins for all of that, but others are capable. He looks forward to seeing who can rise to the occasion.
“There’s a lot of opportunity to be seized, and I think this is the deepest we’ve been in that room for a while,” Burrow said. “And I think we’ve been deep in years past, too, but we have so many guys that we feel good about putting out there: Dohnte, Colbie, Ke’Shawn (Williams). I feel good about all those guys going in there and performing.”
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’marr Chase (1) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Ashley Landis
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