Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ja'Marr Chase suspension could prove costly for struggling Bengals

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Nov 18, 2025 8:03 AM ET

After a 3-7 start, every game is a must-win for the Cincinnati Bengals, which makes star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase's suspension even more costly.

On Monday, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported the NFL has suspended Chase one game for spitting at Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey during Cincinnati's 34-12 road loss in Week 11.

Bengals HC Zac Taylor addresses the Ja'Marr Chase spitting incident

Taylor stuck up for Chase just before he was suspended. The coach said, "One mistake doesn't disregard" everything the wideout has done throughout his five-year career.

"I've always thought it was unbelievable how he's handled himself in some really high-pressure emotional decisions," the coach said during his Monday news conference. "Obviously, what happened is crossing the line. We can't have that, and I know he'll own up to it."

The NFL is suspending Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase for one game for spitting at Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey during Cincinnati’s Week 11 loss to Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/ivvTXLZvCh
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) November 17, 2025

Chase isn't regarded as a dirty player, but Ramsey may have incited the worst in him. James Rapien of BengalsTalk.com shared a clip of the DB pummeling the WR in the back on an incomplete pass early in the second quarter. He hit him after the ball sailed well past his head, but no flag was thrown on the play.

Ja’Marr Chase lost his composure and spit on Jalen Ramsey. Clearly things got heated later in the game… BUT Looking back, I’m shocked this hit didn’t spark a fight. pic.twitter.com/SRq2rFwvDm
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) November 17, 2025

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio also noted Ramsey threw Chase down while he was blocking him on a run play on a second down early in the fourth quarter. They subsequently got into a shoving match on the ensuing play before the WR spat on the DB during a timeout. The Steelers star then threw a punch and was ejected.

Ramsey likely provoked Chase, but he shouldn't have let him get to his head, especially now that he's set to miss a critical Week 12 home game against the New England Patriots at 1 p.m. ET (CBS).

Upsetting the Patriots with Chase — who leads the NFL in receptions (79) — was already hard enough for the struggling Bengals. Led by second-year QB Drake Maye, New England (9-2) has won eight straight games. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has lost its last three games.

The Bengals' playoff hopes were already considered virtually nonexistent after Week 11. As of Monday, ESPN's Football Power Index gave the team a 2.1% chance to make the postseason. Without Chase, Cincinnati will likely lose to New England, which should push it even closer to the brink of elimination.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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