Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett have been ruled out of Saturday’s AFC North clash in Pittsburgh.
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 for the Bengals (8-6).
“We ultimately made the decision it wasn’t going to happen,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said Thursday of playing Chase against the Steelers (7-7).
Chase did not participate in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday. Receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd will be expected to step up in his absence.
Pittsburgh’s Mason Rudolph took over for Mitchell Trubisky last week and will make his first start since 2021 on Saturday. Trubisky struggled in place of Pickett, who underwent ankle surgery aiming to expedite his recovery from a high ankle sprain sustained against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 3.
“I’ve got a lot of good relationships with the guys in the locker room,” Rudolph said. “I think anytime you’re here as long as I’ve been here, you had better have some or you’re probably not a good dude.
“Guys are excited for me and I’m excited to go out there. As the third-string quarterback, (do) you feel like you are really earning your paycheck week to week? And so, I finally get to earn it this week and put my hand in the pile and go fight for victory together.”
The Bengals 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.
–Field Level Media