Bengals lose Chase, Reader, Ivey, but hold off Vikings in OT

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase suffered a right shoulder injury that knocked him out of Saturday’s 27-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings in overtime.

Chase was initially ruled questionable before he was eventually downgraded to out in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with four catches for 64 yards.

He appeared to favor his right shoulder after he made a 24-yard catch to extend a drive early in the fourth. He came to the sideline for a moment before he returned to the game. His final play was a four-yard pass from quarterback Jake Browning to running back Joe Mixon with more than three minutes left in regulation.

The Bengals also lost defensive tackle DJ Reader and rookie defensive back DJ Ivey, who both suffered knee injuries during the first half of play.

Reader was ruled out in the first quarter following a collision at the line of scrimmage. Shortly after Reader went down, Cincinnati’s medical staff called for a cart to take him off the field. He was ruled out for the remainder of the contest before the Vikings finished their offensive drive.

The veteran has been one of the most important players for Cincinnati’s defense in recent years. The eighth-year player out of Clemson signed with Cincinnati during 2020 free agency. His four-year deal worth $53 million was the first key acquisition for a Bengals team that finished the 2019 season with the NFL’s worst record.

Earlier in the week, Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo praised Reader as the most consistent Cincinnati defender so far this season. Reader is in the final year of his contract with the club.

Ivey was ruled out of the game in the second quarter with a left knee injury. The seventh-round pick was injured trying to make a tackle on a punt return.