The Cincinnati Bengals will be fighting for a playoff spot over their final three games of the season, and they may have to do so without their best playmaker.
Ja’Marr Chase suffered a shoulder injury during Cincinnati’s win over the Minnesota Vikings last week. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that Chase separated his shoulder and would “miss some time.”
Rapoport offered another update on Wednesday. The NFL insider says Chase is considered week-to-week but not likely to play in the Bengals’ big Week 16 divisional game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The star wide receiver is questionable for Week 17 as well.
“My understanding is he’s more week-to-week than anything else. I would, in fact, expect him to miss Saturday’s big-time game against the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Rapaport said. “(It is) also conceivable that he misses another game after that. … He would be available, is my understanding, if they made the playoffs. But it does not sound very good for this week and possibly one more.”
From @GMFB: The latest on the status of #Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase, while #Jets QB Aaron Rodgers makes clear there will be no comeback this year. pic.twitter.com/pfYTHd7v9L
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 20, 2023
The Bengals improved to 8-6 with their overtime win against Minnesota. They are one game behind the 9-5 Cleveland Browns in the AFC North. Cincinnati is in sixth place overall in the AFC heading into Week 16, so the next three games will be crucial.
With Joe Burrow already sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a wrist injury, the Bengals cannot afford to be without Chase for very long. They are hoping he will be able to return after sitting out just one game.
