Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been suspended one game for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey on Sunday.
Barring the suspension being overturned, Chase will miss a Week 12 matchup with the New England Patriots.
Chase and Ramsey got into an altercation during Sunday’s matchup, and Ramsey was ejected after throwing a punch at Chase.
That came moments after the two got tangled up, resulting in offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties:
Ramsey said Chase spitting on him started the altercation and that he hoped to see the NFL look into the matter afterwards.
“He spit on me,” Ramsey told reporters of what caused him to swing at Chase. “So, it’s up. I don’t give a f–k about football after that, respectfully.”
Chase denied spitting on Ramsey, though a handful of alternative video angles appeared to show him doing so.
“I never opened my mouth to that guy … I didn’t spit on nobody,” Chase said.
Chase has earned a handful of fines over the course of his career, but the suspension marks his first. His absence will surely be felt by the Bengals as one of the driving forces of the offense.
Chase is once again putting together a tremendous season, recording 76 receptions for 831 yards and five touchdowns. Despite Chase’s individual success, Cincinnati is 3-7, struggling to put together a playoff-caliber season with quarterback Joe Burrow off the field with turf toe.
