The Cincinnati Bengals got a major injury scare during Sunday’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars when star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was forced to leave the game.
Chase was taken to the blue medical tent and is being evaluated for a possible concussion. He later left the sideline and headed to the locker room for further evaluation. His status for the remainder of Sunday’s game remains unclear.
The injury is a potentially significant blow for a Bengals offense looking to rebound from last week’s loss to Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati will now await an update on its All-Pro receiver as the game continues.
Ja’Marr Chase Takes Hard Hit vs. Jaguars
The injury occurred after Chase caught a pass from Joe Burrow in the left flat during the second quarter. As Chase attempted to pick up additional yardage, a Jaguars defender grabbed his facemask and twisted him toward the ground. Chase then took additional contact to his upper body from a second Jacksonville defender.
The Jaguars were flagged for a facemask on the play. Chase remained on the field briefly following the hit before eventually getting back to his feet and walking to the sideline under his own power.
He initially entered the blue medical tent before later heading toward the Bengals’ locker room. Cincinnati announced that Chase was being evaluated for a possible concussion. His status for the remainder of the game is not immediately known.
Bengals Offense Faces Major Question Without Chase
Losing Chase for any amount of time would leave Cincinnati without arguably the most important weapon in its passing game. The Bengals still have Tee Higgins on the outside, but Chase’s ability to command attention from opposing defenses plays a major role in how Cincinnati attacks teams through the air.
If Chase is unable to return, Higgins would likely become Burrow’s primary target while the Bengals lean further on the likes of Dohnte Meyers and Mitchell Tinsley. With WRs Andrei Iosivas and Colbie Young already injured, Joe Burrow is running thin on weapons early in this season.
The timing of Chase’s injury is not ideal. While much was made about the secondary injuries going into this matchup, Cincinnati quietly entered Sunday dealing with limited depth at wide receiver. Iosivas was placed on injured reserve after suffering a thumb injury in Week 2, while Young was ruled out against Jacksonville with a knee injury. The Bengals brought Tinsley back this week after he had spent time on the Houston Texans‘ practice squad.
Chase and Higgins do so much for the team that the lack of depth is less concerning whenever the two of them are on the field. When one goes down, that is a major loss for a team that relies on the passing attack.
Chase’s production would be difficult to replace regardless of the team’s depth. He entered Sunday’s matchup with 18 receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns through Cincinnati’s first three games. That came after another 1,000-yard campaign in 2025, when Chase finished with 125 catches for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns. For now, the Bengals will hope their top receiver can clear the concussion evaluation and return to the field.
Bengals Star Ja’Marr Chase Suffers Injury vs. Jaguars