Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase suffers concussion in 22-17 loss to Jaguars
In short
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after cornerback Jarrian Jones grabbed his facemask and linebacker Ventrell Miller tackled him. Chase left the game and was ruled out for the remainder; the Bengals lost 22-17 to fall back to .500. Reports differ on his receiving yardage before the injury, and his return timeline was unclear.
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Ja'Marr Chase, the Cincinnati Bengals' All-Pro wide receiver, suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Cincinnati. According to the Associated Press, Chase caught a pass from Joe Burrow at the Jaguars 29-yard line when cornerback Jarrian Jones grabbed him by the facemask, and linebacker Ventrell Miller then came in to finish the tackle. Chase hit his head on the turf with 12:04 remaining in the first half. [ 1 , 2 ]
Chase lay on the ground for a couple of minutes before going into the sideline medical tent and then the locker room, and he was declared out at halftime, the Associated Press reported. Fox News reported that Jones was penalised for grabbing the facemask, that the Bengals said Chase was being evaluated for a concussion and was questionable to return, and that the team said at the start of the second half he would miss the rest of the game. Newsweek, citing NFL insider Adam Schefter, reported Chase was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion, and said the play drew two flags against Jacksonville — one for the facemask and another for an unnecessary hit on Chase. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Cincinnati lost 22-17, falling back to .500 after a 2-0 start, the Associated Press reported. Fox News and Newsweek did not report a final score; Newsweek said the Bengals had lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers the previous week, and Fox News said Cincinnati was 2-1 entering Week 4 against Jacksonville. “Certainly this isn't Armageddon or anything,” Burrow said, according to the Associated Press. “We're still in a great spot. This game didn't play out the way we wanted it to. But that's life in the NFL.” [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The outlets differ on Chase's receiving total before he left the game. The Associated Press said he had three catches for 26 yards during the first 18 minutes, Fox News said he had three catches for 37 yards, and Newsweek said three catches for 27 yards and no touchdowns. The Associated Press reported Chase came into the game with 18 receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns, while Newsweek listed the same season totals of 18 catches, 185 yards and three touchdowns. Fox News said he had 16 catches for 173 yards and three touchdowns over his previous two games, and Fox News and Newsweek both described him as a five-time Pro Bowler. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Newsweek reported that Chase's return timeline remained unclear and that he could miss at least the next game, if not more, with his status likely to become clearer later in the week. It noted the Bengals' next opponent, the Miami Dolphins, entered Sunday winless through their first three games. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
Chase is a central part of Cincinnati's offense, so a stay in the concussion protocol would remove one of the Bengals' main targets from the passing game. The loss dropped Cincinnati to .500 after a 2-0 start. Newsweek reported his status could become clearer later in the week and that he could miss at least the next game.
Key facts
- Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones grabbed Chase's facemask and was penalised on the play. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Linebacker Ventrell Miller came in to finish the tackle and Chase hit his head on the turf with 12:04 remaining in the first half. [ 1 ]
- Chase left the game and was ruled out for the remainder of it. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Cincinnati lost 22-17 to Jacksonville, falling back to .500 after a 2-0 start. [ 1 ]
- Chase had three catches before leaving the game; reports differ on the yardage (26, 37 or 27 yards). [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The Associated Press reported Chase came into the game with 18 receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns. [ 1 ]
- Newsweek reported Chase's return timeline was unclear and that he could miss at least the next game. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Chase suffered a concussion during Sunday's game against Jacksonville. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Chase left the game and did not return. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Chase was injured on a play in which Jarrian Jones grabbed his facemask and was penalised. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Chase had three catches before he left the game. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Chase's receiving yardage before the injury The Associated Press said 26 yards, Fox News said 37 yards and Newsweek said 27 yards; all three agree on three catches.
- How long Chase will be out Newsweek, the only document addressing it, said his return timeline remained unclear and that he could miss at least the next game, with his status likely to become clearer later in the week.
- The final score and the Bengals' record change appear in only one document. Only the Associated Press reported the 22-17 result and the drop to .500; Fox News and Newsweek, published around the same time, did not give a final score.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- With 12:04 left in the first half, Chase hits his head on the turf after the facemask grab and the tackle by Ventrell Miller. [ 1 ]
- The Associated Press reports Chase suffered a concussion and that Cincinnati lost 22-17. [ 1 ]
- Fox News reports Jones was penalised for the facemask and that Chase had three catches for 37 yards. [ 2 ]
- The Associated Press publishes a Spanish-language report that Chase is out with a concussion. [ 3 ]
- Newsweek reports that Adam Schefter said Chase was ruled out with a concussion and that his return timeline was unclear. [ 4 ]