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Report: Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase suspended for Patriots game after spitting incident
The NFL determined that Chase spit on Jalen Ramsey last week, leading to a one-game suspension.
The Patriots will likely avoid playing one of the NFL’s most productive receivers this week.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase has been suspended for Sunday’s game against New England for spitting on Pittsburgh’s Jalen Ramsey during an altercation last week.
It is a one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct, which Chase may choose to appeal according to a news release from the league. The suspension is without pay.
“During the fourth quarter, Chase spit on Pittsburgh cornerback Jalen Ramsey, violating Rule 12, section 3, article 1,” the release reads. “Which applies to ‘any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.'”
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Chase and Ramsey got into an altercation after a late hit from the Pittsburgh cornerback. Ramsey was ejected from the game for throwing a punch.
“He spit on me, so it’s up,” Ramsey told reporters after the game. “I don’t give a [expletive] about no football after that. Once he spit, it was … I ain’t going to talk about that part of it.”
Chase was asked whether he spit on Ramsey. He shook his head and said “I ain’t never opened my mouth to that guy.”
Chase admitted that he may have said something that may have upset Ramsey.
“He don’t like some of the words that I told him,” Chase said. “We’ve been going back and forth a little so I’m sure something got under his skin.”
Chase is second in the NFL in receiving yards, with 861. He has 79 catches on 117 targets with five targets.
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His absence will be a blow to the Cincinnati passing game, which has been without quarterback Joe Burrow for weeks. Burrow returned to practice this week and is reportedly eyeing Thanksgiving as a possible date for his return to game action.
The Patriots will be without defensive lineman Milton Williams, who was placed on injured reserve following Thursday’s win against the Jets.
Kayshon Boutte and Rhamondre Stevenson are expected to return to practice on Wednesday after missing multiple games.
The Patriots will visit the Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday at 1:00. New England is on an eight-game winning streak. Cincinnati has lost seven of its last eight games.
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