The Cincinnati Bengals lost Joe Burrow for the season, but they have found ways to win under backup Jake Browning when many expected them to fold. But the loss of another offensive star could be too much of a burden for the Bengals to bear.
The Bengals on Monday night learned that wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase suffered a separated shoulder during their 27-24 overtime win against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday. It could disrupt the momentum Cincinnati has built under Browning — and threatens to snap its three-game winning streak, which will be on the line next Saturday against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Is Chase’s season over?
Chase is expected to miss at least Saturday’s contest against the Steelers, who are 7-7 and in desperate need of a win to get back into the playoff hunt. But NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Chase’s absence from the lineup might easily extend into the coming weeks. The Bengals’ regular season ends on Jan. 7 against the Cleveland Browns.
Chase has caught a career-high 93 passes this season for 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns. The two-time Pro Bowl selection has been a stabilizing force in an offense that has been without Burrow since mid-November and also did not have fellow receiver Tee Higgins for almost all of November. Chase is an unquestioned #1 receiver — and it’ll be up to Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and Joe Mixon to carry the load as long as he is unavailable.
Where is Cincinnati in the AFC playoff picture?
The Bengals are clinging to the sixth seed in the AFC and are one of four teams with an 8-6 win-loss record. The Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans are tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars in a three-way race for the AFC South crown and at least one wild-card berth — all three teams have 8-6 records. The Buffalo Bills are making a late playoff push too, and their hopes received a boost following a dominating 31-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
But the loss of Chase — potentially for the remainder of the regular season — could be the break that teams like the Bills, Colts, and Texans needed. And within that trio of teams, Houston is expected to regain star rookie C.J. Stroud (concussion) for its week 16 matchup against the 9-5 Browns, while Indy running back Jonathan Taylor is on the verge of returning from thumb surgery.
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