The Ja’Marr Chase suspension saga deepened Monday. The National Football League confirmed the wide receiver has formally appealed his one-game ban. The suspension is for attempting to spit on Jalen Ramsey during a heated December matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Reports state former Packers receiver Jordy Nelson—one of three independent appeals officers jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association—will hear Chase’s case. Unless the appeal succeeds, Chase will miss the Bengals’ upcoming game against the New England Patriots.
The incident happened in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ 34-12 victory at Acrisure Stadium. Ramsey told reporters afterward that he was targeted by Chase’s spit, and the act triggered his punch. “He spat on me, so it’s up,” Ramsey said after his ejection.
Chase denied the allegation. “I never opened my mouth to that guy… I didn’t spit on anybody,” he insisted via The Athletic, denying any physical act of disrespect. However, league officials say that video footage captured by FOX 19 in Cincinnati clearly shows spit being expelled toward Ramsey’s direction—a key piece of evidence in the NFL’s decision to discipline.
Referee Bill Vinovich, in his post-game pool report, said the officiating crew did not witness the spitting. “Obviously, we did not. We did not see anything that rose to that level at all.” The disciplinary action hinges on Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 of the NFL rulebook, which addresses acts “contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”
Chase’s appeal enters uncharted territory: while another spitting case occurred earlier this season—Jalen Carter of the Philadelphia Eagles was ejected in the season opener for spitting at Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys—he did not appeal, and his ejection was effectively treated as a suspension. If Chase’s appeal fails, he will become the first player in NFL history to serve a paid suspension specifically for spitting during a game.
Financially, the ramifications are steep. Chase is set to forfeit his weekly salary of $448,333. He would also lose a per-game active bonus of $58,823 unless the appeal is successful.
From a team standpoint, the timing could not be worse for the Cincinnati team. The organization is already navigating a challenging season. With a 3-7 record and a struggling defense, the absence of one of its premier offensive weapons compounds the pressure. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s win and the distraction of the fallout provide momentum for the Steelers’ playoff push.
Coach Zac Taylor addressed the incident Monday in measured tones. He commended Chase’s leadership but made clear the act crossed a line. “Obviously, what happened is crossing the line, and we can’t have that,” Taylor said. “I know he’ll own up to that.”
As the appeal unfolds, three themes dominate: discipline enforcement, precedent setting, and team impact. The NFL’s handling of this case may reshape how future unsportsmanlike acts are punished. For Chase, the window to clear his name is narrow, and the stakes—both financial and reputational—are substantial. For the Bengals, the missing game could alter a season already hanging by a thread.
