Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase left Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury. He went to the locker room shortly after and later returned to the sideline before overtime in a hooded sweatshirt.
Chase’s right arm was inside his sweatshirt when he returned. Cincinnati went on to win 27-24 in overtime.
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Earlier in the final frame, Chase took one play off after appearing to clutch his chest or shoulder following a 24-yard catch when he was sandwiched by three Vikings defenders. The broadcast showed Chase holding the left side of his chest on the sideline after that play.
Before being ruled out, Chase led all Cincinnati players with 64 receiving yards on four catches.
Chase is the Bengals’ leading receiver this season, entering the game with 1,092 yards and seven touchdowns on 89 receptions, his third straight year with 1,000-plus yards since entering the league in 2021.
Time for Higgins to shine?
No updates were offered on Chase’s shoulder injury after the game, but he was in the locker room after most players had already left with ice and a wrap around his right shoulder. Having to play without Chase going forward would be a significant blow for an offense already without quarterback Joe Burrow. That much is obvious, but there is a history of WR Tee Higgins playing some of his best football without Chase, who missed four games last season.
Higgins said receivers coach Troy Walters told him Saturday to “be the alpha.” He did so in a big way. The Bengals will need to channel more of that energy if Chase misses significant time. — Paul Dehner Jr., Bengals senior writer
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(Photo: Ian Johnson / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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