Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase likely to miss several games
The Cincinnati Bengals will be without wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase on the Week 16 roster due to a right shoulder injury.
The Bengals are trying to hold on to their AFC Wild Card berth and are concerned that Chase could miss the rest of the regular season.
Chase suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday's overtime win over the Minnesota Vikings. He was initially diagnosed with a separated shoulder. X-rays were negative, but MRI showed an AC joint sprain.
When quarterback Joe Burrow was sidelined with a season-related throwing wrist injury in Week 11, the Bengals weren't ready to throw their season away. After losing his first start, backup quarterback Jake Browning led the Bengals with three straight wins to advance to the next round.
The Tigers currently sit at 8-6 and hold one of three AFC wild-card spots with three games remaining.
Bengals lose Chase at worst possible moment
Chase was unable to finish in the Week 16 victory over the Vikings, but he tried to play through the injury. Browning targeted Chase four times, completing four passes for 64 yards before the injury.
It was tough," head coach Zac Taylor said. "There was nothing he could do. You could tell when Tee walked off the field after a touchdown that there was no way he was going to last the rest of the day. "
When asked how many games Chase will miss, Taylor gave a hopeful answer.
"Jamal is just everyday," Taylor told reporters.
Despite Taylor's optimism, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Chase will not play in Week 16.
Chase leads the Bengals with 93 catches for 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Wide receiver Tee Higgins recently returned to the lineup after missing several games with a hamstring injury. Higgins has 36 catches for 497 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Tyler Boyd started the season as the No. 3 wide receiver on the Bengals depth chart. When Higgins went down, he stepped up and currently ranks second on the team with 59 catches for 575 yards and two touchdowns.
With Chase set to miss Week 16, backup wide receiver Trenton Irwin also has a chance to get more playing time. Irving has caught 18 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown in limited action this season.
BETTING ON THE BENGALS LAST THREE GAMES
The Bengals will face the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) on Saturday. They travel 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, which could determine the playoff prospects of both AFC North teams. If the Bengals win their remaining three games, they will secure a playoff spot.
According to Upshot projections, the Bengals have a 37% chance of making the playoffs. The Browns have an 88% chance of making the playoffs, while the Steelers still have a glimmer of hope at 4%.
The Bengals have a chance to knock the Steelers out of the playoffs with a win in Week 16. Backup QB Mitch Trubisky and the Steelers are +2 this week at home against the Bengals.
The Bengals have a +200 chance to make the playoffs, according to DraftKings betting. You can bet on missing the playoffs at -250 odds. The Browns have a -800 chance of making the playoffs and a +550 chance of missing the playoffs.
The Baltimore Ravens (11-3) have clinched a playoff spot and would lock up the No. 1 seed in the AFC if the season ended today. The Ravens are the favorite at -2000 to win the AFC North, while the Browns are the closest rival at +950.
At +12,000 odds, the Bengals are nowhere near winning the Super Bowl.
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Source: www.casino.org
