The Bengals will be without Ja’Marr Chase against the Patriots.
The star wideout was suspended one game for unsportsmanlike conduct after video emerged of him spitting at Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey on Sunday in a brouhaha that saw Ramsey get ejected.
Chase denied spitting at Ramsey, but the NFL felt the video showed otherwise.
“I never opened my mouth to that guy,” Chase told reporters after the 34-12 loss. “I didn’t spit on nobody.”
The pair got into into their tiff early in the fourth quarter, with Ramsey throwing a punch and grabbing at Chase’s helmet.
“He spit on me, so it’s up,” Ramsey said. “I don’t give a f–k about football after that, respectfully.”
Ramsey claimed Chase spit at him, but referee Bill Vinovich told a pool reporter officials did not see that occur.
“Obviously, we did not,” Vinovich said. “We did not see anything that rose to that level at all.”
Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase (l.) spits at Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey (r) on Nov. 16, 2025. Fox 19
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said earlier Monday he spoke with Chase about what went down.
“I’ve always been impressed with how Ja’Marr has handled himself because he is in a lot of these situations where he’s got a target as a top player,” Taylor said. “He gets a lot of respect that way, so guys try to do a lot of things to get his attention and get him off his game. I’ve always thought it was unbelievable how he’s handled in some really high-pressure, emotional decisions.
“Obviously, what happened is crossing the line. We can’t have that, and I know he’ll own up to that.”
Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals takes the field before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Getty Images
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the suspension — barring an appeal — will cost Chase $448,333 plus a $58,823 bonus.
Earlier this year, Eagles tackle Jalen Carter was ejected in the first seconds of the NFL season opener for spitting at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, with the league deeming that “because Carter was disqualified before participating in a single play, the suspension was considered to have been served in Week 1.”