Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) walks off the field after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) walks off the field after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)Matt Durisko/Associated Press
The NFL has suspended Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase for one game, which means he will be unavailable Sunday against the Patriots in Cincinnati.
The discipline stems from Chase’s actions in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s 34-12 loss to the Steelers. According to Pittsburgh’s Jalen Ramsey, Chase spit at the cornerback during an exchange after a failed third-down play. Ramsey then grabbed Chase’s face mask and appeared to throw a punch at his helmet, leading to his disqualification.
Chase claimed after the game he did not spit on Ramsey, but the league ruled otherwise after reviewing video evidence.
The punishment marks the second time this season the NFL has had to suspend a player for spitting, with the other being Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter for a Week 1 infraction against the Cowboys.
Chase, who will forfeit a $448,333 weekly paycheck as well as a $58,823 per game active bonus, will be a big loss for the Bengals offense, even without the return of quarterback Joe Burrow from toe surgery.
In 10 games this season, eight played without Burrow, Chase has caught a league-high 79 passes on 117 targets for 861 yards and five touchdowns. He would have been one of the toughest assignments of the season for Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who will now likely be tasked with containing Tee Higgins.
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang.