Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor isn’t prepared to make any rash decisions on the availability of wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase for Saturday’s game against the host Pittsburgh Steelers.
Taylor told reporters on Tuesday that Chase wouldn’t practice that day. Taylor also said that ‘we’ll see as the week goes’ in regard to determining his star wideout’s status versus the Steelers (7-7).
Chase separated his shoulder in the fourth quarter of Cincinnati’s 27-24 overtime victory against the Minnesota Vikings last Saturday. NFL Network reported Monday that he could end up missing multiple weeks of action.
The Bengals (8-6) are in the thick of the AFC playoff race and are already playing without starting quarterback Joe Burrow, who sustained a season-ending wrist injury in a 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16. Jake Browning has taken over under center.
Chase, 23, leads the team in catches (93), receiving yards (1,156) and touchdowns (seven) in 14 games this season.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Chase has 261 receptions for 3,657 yards and 29 touchdowns in 43 career games. He was selected by the Bengals with the fifth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft out of LSU.
Receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd likely will be expected to step up in Chase’s absence.
–Field Level Media