7:05pm: Per Schefter, there is concern that Rodgers sustained a “slight break” in his left wrist. More clarity, including how much time Rodgers might miss, will come after his evaluation on Monday. It sounds as if some missed time is expected, because Schefter followed his report regarding the possible break with a post suggesting Rudolph will be under center when the Steelers face the Bears in Week 12.
Nonetheless, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network says this is not expected to be a long-term issue.
5:54pm: The Bengals lost an important divisional game against the Steelers on Sunday, dropping them to 3-7. Already without starting quarterback Joe Burrow until at least Week 13, Cincinnati may also lose its top wideout, Ja’Marr Chase, for a game.
In the fourth quarter of the Bengals-Steelers contest, Pittsburgh’s Jalen Ramsey was ejected for punching Chase. While passing along a video of the incident, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo says Ramsey’s transgression appears to have been more of a grab of Chase’s facemask than a true punch. Ramsey and Chase had already been flagged for offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, however, so Ramsey presumably would have been ejected regardless.
Ramsey’s teammate, Joey Porter Jr. , told reporters after the game that Chase spit on Ramsey, which triggered the mercurial defensive back’s reaction (video link via ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin). Porter acknowledges he did not see the alleged expectoration, and Chase denied the claim (via Martin).
But in a video passed along by Fox 19 sports photographer Austin Briski, it appears Ramsey was correct and that Chase did, in fact, spit on him. Head referee Bill Vinovich said in the postgame pool report that neither he nor any other members of his crew witnessed that part of the altercation (from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, via Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
An NFL spokesman told ESPN’s Adam Schefter the league will be reviewing the incident. And, as Garafolo reminds us, league precedent indicates spitting does merit a suspension.
Eagles DT Jalen Carter technically was not suspended for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the first regular season game of the 2025 slate. However, that was only because the incident took place immediately after the opening kickoff, and before Carter even played a snap (Carter was fined the amount of a full game check). Since the Chase-Ramsey incident transpired well into the fourth quarter of Sunday’s matchup, Chase could certainly be hit with a brief ban as well as a fine.
The spitting saga overshadowed the fact that the Steelers played half of the game without starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The soon-to-be 42-year-old sustained a left wrist injury late in the first half and did not return. Per Rapoport, Rodgers will undergo an evaluation on his wrist on Monday morning.
Backup Mason Rudolph completed 12 of 17 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Chase is a great, great player. But the Steelers made it a point to get in his head and on his nerves all game long. And it worked. Ramsey, Porter, and James Pierre frankly did a mostly outstanding job of both covering and distracting Chase. By the time they drew their penalties, Chase was working harder at hitting Ramsey after the whistle than he was at getting open…. That being said, it was dumb for Ramsey to get himself ejected. Tomlin got this one right: he didn’t need to know the reason, Ramsey shouldn’t have left his team at a disadvantage.
Let me add that while I don’t wish any player to be hurt, Rudolph continues to impress me. His general attitude, his approach to being ready and the fact that I believe he has no fear of being hit in order to wait and throw downfield is kind of refreshing in this dink and dunk offense we see week after week
You’re absolutely right about the defensive strategy and what Ramsey did today. And it’s a shame, as the guy was a catalyst back there for big hits and coverage
As a longtime Rudolph critic…agreed on all counts. He threw short a lot, but the Bengals were playing the deep ball. He threw a couple duds, but he also threw some dimes. And it’s apparent that the team likes Mason as much as Rodgers. There was zero wavering by anyone on that sideline. As for attitude, Rudolph has never complained a bit about being passed over for starting chances here, and he’s always prepared.
You are a grown man and you are spitting on another human being?