CINCINNATI – Ja’Marr Chase is set to serve a one-game suspension due to yesterday’s incident in which he spat at Jalen Ramsey.
The NFL has handed Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase a one-game suspension without pay after league review determined he spat on Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey during Sunday’s heated divisional matchup.
The ruling came less than twenty-four hours after the viral confrontation dominated national headlines and overshadowed the Steelers’ dominant win.
Chase will now miss Cincinnati’s upcoming game against the New England Patriots and will forfeit about $448,333 in weekly salary plus an additional $58,823 active-game bonus. With additional roster-based bonuses deducted, the total financial hit climbs above half a million dollars, marking one of the costliest discipline-related penalties of his career.
The league stated that video review supported Ramsey’s claim that Chase spat on him during a timeout altercation, the same moment that triggered Ramsey to grab Chase’s facemask and throw a punch that led to his own ejection.
While Ramsey’s retaliation is also under review, officials made it clear the suspension was specifically tied to Chase’s unsportsmanlike conduct.
Chase, however, denied the allegation post altercation. Speaking to reporters after the game, he said, “I didn’t spit on nobody. I ain’t ever opened my mouth to that guy.” His firm denial stands in sharp contrast to Ramsey’s emotional postgame comments, where Ramsey said, “He spit on me… I don’t give a f-k about football after that, respectfully.”
Their conflicting accounts fueled an immediate storm of debate across the league.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor addressed the issue carefully, noting that he still views Chase as a leader within the locker room but acknowledging that the situation “crossed the line” and would be handled internally. With the Bengals sitting at three wins and seven losses, the suspension adds pressure to an already turbulent season.
Across the NFL community, reactions were swift and overwhelming. Many analysts argued that spitting is one of the most disrespectful acts on a football field and warrants suspension every time. Fans echoed similar sentiments on social platforms, with many insisting the league had no choice given precedent established earlier in the season. Some even questioned why Chase wasn’t penalized during the game itself, citing the fact that officials admitted they did not see the spit in real time.
Others focused on Ramsey’s retaliation, suggesting that while his punch earned him an ejection, the emotional response was understandable given the provocation.
Several commentators emphasized that disputes of this nature rarely stay confined to the players involved, often affecting team discipline, league integrity, and public perception of competitiveness in high-stakes divisional matchups.
