Cincinnati’s two-game losing streak went from bad to worse when Ja’Marr Chase left the game early with a concussion.
Chase spent the second half of the Bengals’ 22-17 loss to the Jaguars in the blue medical tent after taking a frightening hit with 12:02 left in the second quarter.
The All-Pro receiver had his facemask pulled and took a heavy blow to the head from another defender along the sideline.
Jaguars cornerback Jarrion Jones grabbed Chase’s facemask, while linebacker Ventrell Miller delivered a high tackle. Officials penalized Jones for the facemask but did not flag Miller.
On the replay, the CBS broadcast crew noted that Miller’s hit appeared to involve the crown of his helmet.
Chase stayed on the turf, clutching his head, as medical staff rushed onto the field to help. He got to his feet shortly afterward and was escorted to the medical tent.
“They’ll figure it out. We’ll see how Chase is doing now, but these guys will sort it out, and we’ll have a good plan for the second half,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said at halftime.
Chase was listed as questionable to return at halftime, but was later ruled out with a concussion.
The Bengals’ passing game kept rolling, as quarterback Joe Burrow completed 39 of 54 passes for 428 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.
Chase caught all three of his targets for 27 yards before leaving. Fellow receiver Tee Higgins also exited with an injury in the fourth quarter.
With Chase out of Sunday’s game and ruled out for next week’s matchup against the Dolphins, the Bengals now face a difficult situation, with only two healthy receivers heading into Monday: Mitch Tinsley and Dohnte Meyers.
“We just have to make it work, and for the most part we did. Never felt like, ‘Man, we can’t do this because of who we got’. If you make our roster on offense, you’ve got something to ya,” Taylor said after the game.
The Bengals fall to 2-2 after starting the first half of September undefeated.
