A field-level camera appeared to show Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase spitting on Jalen Ramsey, and the Steelers defensive back was ejected for throwing a punch. Sam Greene / The Enquirer / USA Today via Imagn Images
NFL officials are reviewing what appears to have been an overlooked ejectable offense by Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in his team’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Chase and Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey engaged in an altercation following a play early in the fourth quarter, and both players received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a warning that another such penalty would lead to an ejection. Following a timeout after that third down, Chase and Ramsey resumed their dust-up, and the officiating crew ejected Ramsey after seeing him grab Chase’s face mask and throw a punch at him. Chase, however, remained in the game.
Afterward, Ramsey told reporters that Chase spat on him. Chase denied that claim, saying, “I ain’t never opened my mouth to that guy. … I didn’t spit on nobody.”
However, although the game broadcast cameras didn’t capture the incident, a field-level camera did, and Chase did indeed appear to spit on Ramsey prior to the defensive back’s reaction.
On Monday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor seemed to acknowledge Chase spitting on Ramsey.
“Obviously what happened is crossing the line,” Taylor said, per NFL Network. “We can’t have that. I know [Chase will] own up to that.”
A person with knowledge of the situation said that NFL officials have already begun reviewing the matter. If officials deem that the footage is clear enough to find Chase at fault, he could face a suspension.
There’s no timeline for the completion of the review.
Nov 17, 2025
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