The NFL on Monday suspended Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Jalen Ramsey during Sunday’s game, the league announced.
Chase will miss Cincinnati’s Week 12 game against the New England Patriots, who, at 9-2, are currently in first place in the AFC East.
“During the fourth quarter, Chase spit on Pittsburgh cornerback Jalen Ramsey in violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to ‘any act contrary to generally accepted rules of sportsmanship,'” the league said in a statement suspending Chase.
Chase is allowed to appeal its suspension under the collective bargaining agreement.
Ramsey and Chase got into a verbal altercation early in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh’s 34-12 victory Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. The altercation quickly turned physical as Ramsey swiped at Chase’s helmet and grabbed his face mask before players from both teams separated the two. The Steelers DB was subsequently ejected.
Ramsey told reporters after the game that Chase spat on him, which caused the incident. Chase initially denied the allegation, but footage of the incident appeared to show that he actually spat at Ramsey. Chase declined to speak to the media Monday, according to multiple local reporters.
“He spit on me,” Ramsey said Sunday, via ESPN . “I don’t give a f—- about football after that, respectfully. I’m always going to be all for trash-talking, s— talking, things like that. I actually enjoy that part of the game. I think people know that.”