Jalen Ramsey said Ja’Marr Chase spat on him before their fourth-quarter confrontation that resulted in the Steelers cornerback’s ejection from Sunday’s game against Cincinnati.
The late-game blowup between the two stars briefly shifted attention away from Pittsburgh’s decisive 34-12 win at Acrisure Stadium. Chase denied Ramsey’s accusation after the loss.
Ramsey spoke with reporters in the Steelers locker room after the game. He gave context to what triggered his punch during the heated exchange.
“He spit on me so it’s up,” Ramsey said.
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“I don’t give a f*** about football after that.”
Both players drew offsetting penalties with 13:28 remaining in the fourth quarter after jawing at each other throughout the drive. Jalen Ramsey grabbed Chase’s facemask before swinging, leading to his ejection and a 15-yard gain for Cincinnati.
Ja’Marr Chase denies spitting on Jalen Ramsey during Bengals’ loss
Ja’Marr Chase rejected Jalen Ramsey’s reasoning.
“I never opened my mouth to that guy,” Chase said.
“I didn’t spit on nobody.”
The disagreement followed multiple tense moments earlier in the game.
“The first time we had an altercation, and then it was the second time,” Chase said.
“Something got under his skin.”
Pittsburgh’s secondary engaged Chase verbally most of the afternoon, with Ramsey and Joey Porter Jr. leading the chatter.
Chase finished with three catches for 30 yards on 10 targets. Pittsburgh’s defense controlled the game long before Jalen Ramsey’s ejection. Kyle Dugger jumped a hurried throw from Joe Flacco late in the third quarter and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown, stretching the lead to 20-9.
Later, James Pierre scooped up a Noah Fant fumble and ran it back 33 yards to seal the victory with just over three minutes remaining.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph entered after Aaron Rodgers exited with a hand injury and delivered efficiently. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown to Kenneth Gainwell.
Cincinnati’s lone touchdown came in the first quarter on Flacco’s 28-yard strike to Higgins.