The Cincinnati Bengals not only fell short in their Week 4 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but one of their top players went down in the process. Early in the second quarter of Sunday’s 22-17 home defeat, WR Ja’Marr Chase sustained an illegal hit from CB Jarrian Jones.
The play caused Chase to exit the outing early, and he never returned after that. With a Sunday showdown vs. the Miami Dolphins approaching, many are curious about Chase’s potential availability.
Let’s dive into the latest Ja'Marr Chase injury update and weigh its potential impact on Bengals fantasy football picks and projections for PrizePicks.
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Ja'Marr Chase Injury Update: Will Chase Play in Week 5?
Per Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, Chase is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol. He and fellow Cincinnati WR Tee Higgins (adductor) are considered day-to-day, giving both players an uphill battle to be ready in time for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday.
The NFL’s return-to-play process regarding concussions includes five phases:
- Phase 1: Meetings, film study, light activity (stretching, etc.)
- Phase 2: Supervised cardio with gradual buildup
- Phase 3: Inclusion of strength training and a maximum of 30 minutes of sport-specific exercises with no contact permitted
- Phase 4: Additional non-contact activity (throwing, running, etc.)
- Phase 5: Independent exam by a neurologist + clearance for practice
At the time of his injury, Chase had 3 receptions for 27 yards. The former fifth overall NFL Draft pick is enjoying yet another productive season, with Weeks 2 and 3 seeing him combine for 21 targets, 16 catches, 173 yards, and 3 TDs.
The former LSU standout is recording a career-low 7.8-yard average depth of target, although his passer rating when targeted (131.8) has never been higher. Chase is coming off back-to-back All-Pro seasons on the First Team, as well as consecutive years leading the NFL in targets (175 in 2024, 185 in 2025).
It’s safe to say that Chase is one of the most lethal pass-catching weapons in the sport when he’s healthy. Keep an eye on the Bengals’ practice and injury reports over the next few days, as they could help provide an indication of whether he’s tracking to start or sit in Week 5.
Bengals Fantasy Football Outlook & Weapons If Chase Misses Sunday
Fortunately for the Bengals, their big-time clash with the Baltimore Ravens on October 25 comes after a bye week. That might just give the team some incentive to sit one or both of Chase or Higgins, although it’d leave Burrow (Week 5 projection of 250.5 Pass Yards on PrizePicks) without some more than viable options to throw to.
Ironically, it’s been Higgins who’s carried the load for the Bengals through four games. According to SumerSports, he ranks 18th among all NFL WRs with a 25.16% target share. Chase’s 18.06% mark sits 45th. Higgins’ 2.80 yards per route run also trumps Chase’s 1.75.
Cincinnati’s target distribution from Sunday depicted a team that was sharing the love. RB Chase Brown matched Higgins’ team-best 11 receptions in Week 4, with WR Dohnte Meyers (7) slotting in behind him.
With that said, don’t forget about WR Mitchell Tinsley, who recently rejoined the organization by signing from the Houston Texans’ practice squad. Tinsley had 7 targets, 3 catches, and 49 yards in Week 4 and was targeted 24 times by Burrow a season ago, scoring twice.
In a small sample size, Tinsley’s 13.21% target share trails only Chase and Higgins among Bengals wideouts. TE Mike Gesicki (9.68%) figures to see some passes thrown his way, too, but isn’t really a volume option for Burrow.
The Bengals roll into the weekend as 7.5-point favorites against the Dolphins on the road, per PrizePicks, returning a 1.25x payout if they win outright.
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Regardless of whether Ja’Marr Chase misses any action for the Bengals, it could be an abbreviated absence from the lineup for perhaps the best in the business. In the meantime, there remain plenty of Bengals and NFL picks for fans to make on PrizePicks.
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