After serving a one-game suspension, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is back on Thanksgiving Day vs. the Baltimore Ravens. Not only is Chase back, but his right-hand man, quarterback Joe Burrow, is back as well. Burrow’s return may be too little too late for the Bengals, but at this point, it’s far too early to tell. Regardless, game three of the Thanksgiving slate is a marquee AFC North showdown.
With the Bengals sitting at 3-8, they certainly have their work cut out for them against the 6-5 Ravens. Now that QB Lamar Jackson has been back at it for a while, the Ravens are the clear favorite to win the division. Even though Burrow has been out for months and Chase just missed a game, the Bengals aren’t going to make anything easy for Baltimore.
What Led to Ja’Marr Chase’s Suspension?
Things did not go well for the Bengals in Pittsburgh as the Steelers destroyed a Joe Burrow-less team, 34-12. Chase was targeted 10 times but hauled in just three receptions for 30 yards, which shockingly wasn’t even his lowest total of the season. It’s been a frustrating season, no doubt, but nothing can excuse Chase’s reaction to spitting on Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey during that game.
While Chase was not removed from the game, he later learned of his suspension. Chase tried to appeal it, but his suspension was upheld, costing him $448,333 of his weekly paycheck. Not only did he lose out on that amount, but ESPN also mentioned his $58,823 per-game active bonus, which he was forced to forfeit.
Ramsey was ejected from the game for throwing a punch at Chase. The punch came after Chase spit at him, which surprisingly wasn’t the first time an NFL player spit on another this season. Regardless, the NFL had clear video evidence of Chase’s actions and had no choice but to suspend him.
In the game that Chase missed due to suspension, the Bengals lost to the New England Patriots, 26-20. Tee Higgins ended up missing a good chunk of the game due to a concussion, leaving Flacco with the likes of Andrei Iosivas and Mitchell Tinsley to throw to. Throughout the league, Burrow is 6th with a B grade in PFSN’s WR Impact Metric.
Here in Week 13, the Bengals are close to full-strength. Chase’s suspension is no longer, and Burrow will be back on the field for the first time since Week 2. Taking down the red-hot Ravens will be much easier said than done, but it’s impossible to count out the Burrow and Chase connection.