The Bengals’ victory over the Vikings gave them a boost in the race for a playoff spot. But they may be without star receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
The wideout left the game in the fourth quarter and did not return. The Bengals still rallied for the win without him. They scored a a trio of fourth-quarter touchdowns, then won with a 29-yard Evan McPherson field goal in overtime.
But going forward, the Bengals will need Chase. Mike Garafolo, an NFL Network reporter, offered hope to Cincinnati fans. He said the Bengals medical staff still needs to run tests. “But the hope is that maybe he won’t miss any time,” Garafolo said from the NFL Network set. “We shall see on that one.”
In post-game. Bengals coach Zac Taylor acknowledged he didn’t have much information to share on Chase’s shoulder. But he hinted that the news wasn’t good for defensive lineman D.J. Reader, who suffered a quad injury earlier in the game against the Vikings.
“D.J., I don’t think D.J. … I have more information,” Taylor told reporters. “But I don’t think it’s a positive (outcome). I’m not sure about Ja’Marr.”
When a reporter asked him more about Reader, Taylor answered “it’s not great. I don’t want to be definitive (yet right now).”
Chase ranks fifth in the NFL with 93 catches with 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bengals are without star quarterback Joe Burrow, who had season-ending wrist surgery last month. However, Jake Browning, Burrow’s replacement, has led Cincinnati to three straight wins. His receivers are coming up big to keep the playoff hopes alive.
Browning threw a touchdown pass to Tee Higgins to tie the game with 39 seconds to go in regulation. Browning then set up the winning field goal in OT with a 44-yard completion to Tyler Boyd.
“It’s an emotional game.” the Bengals coach said. “That thing was a roller coaster. That’s kind of like the season a little bit. You just have to be able to stay composed and not panic. Just like when you’re down in the season, you’re down in this game and our guys just — there’s no fear, there’s no ‘Oh, here we go.’ It’s just, ‘Who’s going to step up and makes the play that keeps us in this thing?’
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