Ja'Marr Chase Denies Spitting Incident with Jalen Ramsey Amid Game Controversy
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase firmly rejected allegations of spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey during their matchup on November 16. However, footage from the game suggests a different narrative.
As the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter, tensions escalated between Chase, 25, and Ramsey, 31. The two players exchanged heated words before a confrontation unfolded, captured on video. In the clip, as they engaged face-to-face, something appears to eject from Chase's mouth. Moments later, Ramsey retaliated by striking Chase's face mask and throwing a punch, prompting officials and teammates to intervene. Ramsey was subsequently ejected from the game.
Ramsey expressed his frustration post-game, stating, “He spit on me. I don’t give a f*** about football after that, respectfully. I’m always going to be all for trash-talking... But as soon as he spit, it was f*** that.”
Chase countered these claims, asserting, “I never opened my mouth to that guy. I didn’t spit on nobody.” He suggested that Ramsey's aggression stemmed from their ongoing banter throughout the game. “We’ve been going back and forth the whole time,” Chase noted. “So, I’m sure something got under his skin.”
Following the incident, NFL insider reports indicated that the league is investigating the matter, with a decision anticipated on November 17. Should the NFL conclude that Chase did indeed spit at Ramsey, he could face disciplinary action.
Ramsey commented on the investigation, saying, “I’m sure the NFL will do their due diligence. They’ve got 100 cameras out there... They should be able to pull it up and see that he spit.”
Referee Bill Vinovich addressed the media after the game, clarifying that he did not witness any spitting during the incident. “We did not see anything that rose to that level at all,” he stated. Vinovich elaborated on the scuffle, noting that both players had been grappling with each other’s face masks throughout the game.
Prior to the altercation, both players had received unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Ramsey remarked on this, saying, “I ain’t going to do something again to get myself kicked out of the game.”
The Steelers emerged victorious with a score of 34-12, maintaining their lead in the AFC North. The Bengals are set to face the New England Patriots on November 23. If Chase is suspended, Cincinnati's challenge against one of the league's top teams will be significantly heightened.
