The official who penalized Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase for unsportsmanlike conduct late in Cincinnati’s 26-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon said that Chase crossed a line and got personal.
Chase was tackled after a 4-yard reception that should have put the Bengals at third-and-7 at the Chiefs’ 30-yard line in the fourth quarter at Arrowhead Stadium. Instead of returning to the huddle, Chase jumped up and confronted official Alex Kemp.
Chase, Kemp said, thought he was taken down by cornerback Trent McDuffie with a hip-drop tackle, a technique that was banned this season across the league. Though it’s unclear what was specifically said, that’s when Kemp said Chase crossed the line.
“The simple answer is, profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal abusive language toward a game official,” Kemp said, via ESPN’s Ben Baby, when asked about the difference between abuse and simple disagreements on the field. “That’s the line. When that line gets crossed, we simply can’t let that happen in pro football.”
Things got so bad at one point during the confrontation, which eventually forced the Bengals to settle for a field goal that put them up by two points early in the fourth quarter, that quarterback Joe Burrow shoved Chase hard to keep him away from Kemp and the officials.
“Just trying to deescalate the situation,” Burrow said, via ESPN. “I’m not entirely sure what was said or who threw the flag.”
Chase declined to address the penalty after the game.
“I ain’t talking about it,” Chase said when asked.
As for the tackle that set off Chase in the first place, Kemp said they thought it was a legal move.
“We informed him that we did not feel it was a hip-drop tackle,” Kemp said, via ESPN.
Chase finished with 35 yards on four catches in the loss for the Bengals, who dropped to 0-2 on the season. The Chiefs, thanks in part to a pass interference call on a fourth down on their final drive, kicked a 51-yard field goal to grab the one-point win.
Chase held in throughout training camp amid a search for a new contract, though he never reached one with the Bengals. He reportedly has no plans to negotiate a long-term deal with the Bengals during the season, and he has reportedly taken out a $50 million insurance policy on himself in case he gets injured. Chase had 62 yards on six catches last week in Cincinnati’s loss to the New England Patriots.
The Bengals will host the Washington Commanders (1-2) next week, where they’ll try to avoid dropping to 0-3.
“It doesn’t feel great losing,” Chase said plainly.