Cincinnati Bengals Receiver Ja’Marr Chase Could Miss Multiple Games

Posted on: December 19, 2023, 11:03h. 

Last updated on: December 19, 2023, 12:02h.

Pauly McGuire Read More
Expertise: Sports Betting, Sports.

The Cincinnati Bengals won’t have wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in the lineup in Week 16 because of a right shoulder injury.

WR Ja'Marr Chase Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, seen here celebrating a touchdown in November, could be sidelined for a couple of games with a shoulder injury. (Image: Getty)

The Bengals are trying to hold on to their AFC wild-card berth and are worried that Chase could miss the remainder of the regular season.

Chase sustained a shoulder injury in a comeback victory in overtime against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. He was initially diagnosed with a separated shoulder. X-rays were negative, but an MRI revealed an AC joint sprain.

The Bengals were not about to give up on their season when quarterback Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending wrist injury on his throwing hand in Week 11. After losing his first start, backup quarterback Jake Browning led the Bengals to three wins in a row.

The Bengals are now 8-6 and currently occupy one of three AFC wild-card berths with three games remaining.

 Bengals Lose Chase at Worst Possible Time

Chase was unable to finish Week 16’s victory against the Vikings, but attempted to play through the pain. Browning targeted Chase four times, and he hauled in four receptions for 64 yards before his injury.

It was tough,” said head coach Zac Taylor. “There was not much he could do. And you could tell him coming off the field after one of Tee’s touchdowns, there was no way he was going to be able to play with that for the rest of the day.”

Taylor provided a hopeful answer when asked about how many games Chase would miss.

“Ja’Marr is day to day,” Taylor told reporters.

Despite an optimistic Taylor, Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network reported that Chase won’t play in Week 16.

Chase leads the Bengals this season with 93 receptions for 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns.

Wide receiver Tee Higgins recently returned to the lineup after missing several games with a hamstring injury. Higgins caught 36 passes this season for 497 yards and four touchdowns.

Tyler Boyd began the season as WR #3 on the Bengals’ depth chart. He stepped up when Higgins went down, and he’s currently second on the team with 59 receptions for 575 yards and two touchdowns.

Backup wide receiver Trenton Irwin also has a chance to see more playing time with Chase out in Week 16. Irwin caught 18 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown in limited action this season.

Betting the Bengals’ Final 3 Games

The Bengals square off against AFC North rival the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7), on Saturday. They head to Kansas City next week to play the Chiefs (9-5) on New Year’s Eve.

The Bengals host the Cleveland Browns (9-5) in Cincinnati in the last games of the season, which could determine the postseason future of both AFC North squads. If the Bengals win all three remaining games, they’ll lock up a trip to the playoffs.

According to a prediction by Upshot, the Bengals have a 37% chance to make the playoffs. The Browns have an 88% chance to advance to the postseason, and the Steelers still have a glimmer of hope with a 4% chance.

The Bengals have a chance to knock the Steelers out of playoff contention with a victory in Week 16. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky and the Steelers are +2 home underdog against the Bengals this week.

The Bengals are +200 odds to make the playoffs, according to a prop bet by DraftKings. You can back them at -250 odds to miss the playoffs. The Browns are -800 odds to make the playoffs, and +550 odds to miss the postseason.

The Baltimore Ravens (11-3) clinched a playoff berth, and if the season ended today, they would secure the #1 seed in the AFC. The Ravens are a huge favorite to win the AFC North at -2000 odds while the Browns are their closest competition at +950 odds.

The Bengals are a long shot to win the Super Bowl at +12000 odds.