DJ Reader is out for the season, and Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase is day-to-day.
The Bengals’ coach, Zac Taylor, said Sunday that wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is “day-to-day” with a strained AC joint in his right shoulder.
The coach also said it’s too early to tell if Chase will be able to practice this week before the Dec. 23 game towards the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chase got hurt when the team beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 in overtime on Saturday. Taylor said that the short-term assessment of Chase is in line with what was expected at the start.
Two players, including a few of their best defenders, got bad news for the Bengals. Reader tore his left thigh in 2020, his first year with the Bengals.
Taylor said on Sunday that defensive tackle DJ Reader will not play again this season because he tore his quadriceps to his right leg.
Reader, who is in the last year of his deal, was one of the first players Cincinnati signed to free agency to try to fix a team that had the worst record in the league last year.
Taylor said Sunday that Cincinnati rookie cornerback DJ Ivey tore his ACL in his right knee, ending his season.
Unfortunately, Ivey got hurt while trying to make a stop on a punt return. Ivey played a number defensive snaps but mostly on special teams.
Chase put his right shoulder on the ground after making a catch for 24 yards on third-and-21 to lengthen a Bengals drive during their comeback. He came in to two more snaps, but the game wasn’t over yet.
The boy said, “It was hard.” “He couldn’t do much.” You were able to inform him that he couldn’t play the rest of the day after coming off the field once one of Tee Higgins’ scores.
Chase had four catches for 64 yards, which was the most on the team. Ohio (8-6) came back from being down 14 points in the fourth period to force OT and win its third straight game.
Chase has caught 93 passes this season, gaining 1,156 yards or seven scores. There are still three games left in the regular season, and Chase needs 19 catches to equal T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s squad record of 112 catches, which was set in 2007.
Reader has played in 44 games for the Bengals, including the one on Saturday. Taylor said he was a big part of the team’s comeback, which included making it to the Super Bowl and winning back-to-back AFC North titles.
In order for Cincinnati (8-6) to stay in the AFC playoff race, they will need to see if Chase can play next Saturday at Pittsburgh. Chase got hurt during the 37-24 overtime win over the Vikings on Saturday.
Taylor said of the star wide receiver, “We’ll keep seeing how the week goes.” This season, he has caught 1166 passes for 1,156 yards and seven scores.
DJ Reader (quad) and DJ Ivey (knee), a defensive tackle for Cincinnati, will not play at all. They will both miss the rest of the football season.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Joe Burrow hurt his hand on November 16 and had to be replaced by Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, who won his third straight start.
“I know a lot of people want to say that Sam Hubbard or I are the heart of this defense, but that’s our leader, and it stinks which happened to him,” cornerback Mike Hilton said.
“Everyone needs to step up even more when you lose a leader.” Obviously, when Joe Burrow got hurt, those guys moved up on offense. Now, when DJ gets hurt, we have to do the same on defense.
Reader started his career as a member of the Houston Texans. In 2020, he signed as a free agent with the Bengals. He is in the last year of his deal and will be able to sign with any team he wants after the season.
Reader’s role is to block multiple players and close up holes in the running game, so his effect on the opponent’s defense doesn’t always show up in the stats.
This past week, defensive coach Lou Anarumo said that Reader is the most reliable player on safety this season.
Taylor said of Reader, “He’s just this a leader and such a steady force on attack.” I think he’s playing great because he’s so steady every day.
Coaches and other players know they can count on him to have the right attitude every day.
Seeing him leave the field and last night in the practice area made me sure he’d do the right thing.
It’s terrible for DJ and for all of us because he’s such an important part of our team. It’s terrible to see something consisting of the fact that happen to him.