Ja’Marr Chase receives his punishment for spitting on Jalen Ramsey as NFL sticks with recent precedent
Chase and Ramsey went at during Cincinnati’s loss in Pittsburgh.
Ja’Marr Chase is being suspended for the Cincinnati Bengals’ Week 12 game against the New England Patriots.
Chase is set to serve a one-game suspension for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey during the fourth quarter of Cincinnati’s 12-34 loss in Pittsburgh; an altercation that had Ramsey ejected for his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the game. Ramsey alleged after the game Chase had spit on him right before their scuffle, and Chase swiftly denied it. Video evidence appeared later on, showing Chase did in fact spit at Ramsey before the latter’s disqualification.
Chase’s one-game sentence matches what Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was handed by the NFL earlier this season. Carter was caught spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before the first snap of their Week 1 matchup and was disqualified from playing the game. Because Carter missed the entire contest, his suspension was considered finished. Chase will now miss an entire game as well, matching precedent.
The Bengals will get their No. 1 wide receiver back for Week 13’s Thanksgiving night matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, but they’ll first have to take on one of the best teams in the entire league without him.
Bengals will be without Ja’Marr Chase against the 9-2 Patriots
The New England Patriots are set to play in Cincinnati for the second consecutive year. These teams last met at the start of the 2024 season when expectations were very high for the Bengals and very low for New England. The tables have turned completely 14 months later.
New England’s nine wins through 11 weeks is tied for the most in the NFL with the Denver Broncos. Cincinnati entered this week as 7-point underdogs, and without its top pass-catcher taking the field, that line figures to move further away from them.
Ja’Marr Chase 2025 receiving stats
- 79 receptions
- 861 yards
- 10.9 yards per reception
- 5 touchdowns
Chase is the first Bengals player to be suspended by the league since 2021 when Pooka Williams was suspended for two games for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy.
Chase can appeal the suspension and should receive an answer before Wednesday’s practice.
UPDATE: Chase will appeal the suspension, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
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