Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase Hit With Huge 5-Figure Fine for Actions vs. Chiefs

The NFL has revealed their Week 2 fines on September 21, dishing out at least three financial penalties from the Kansas City Chiefs’ narrow victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

As usual, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero relayed each one on X, starting with a hefty forfeiture for Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

“The NFL fined Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase $31,599 for unsportsmanlike conduct — screaming at referee Alex Kemp, who flagged Chase for abusive language,” Pelissero informed. “Chase wanted a flag for a hip-drop tackle on [Chiefs cornerback] Trent McDuffie, who was neither flagged nor fined.”

So, after reviewing the play in question, it appears the league office has sided with McDuffie and the call — or rather, no call — on the field. Having said that, a KC player was fined for a different hip-drop tackle incident ahead of Week 3.

Chiefs LB Nick Bolton Fined by NFL for Hip-Drop Tackle While Second Bengals WR Penalized

“The NFL also fined Chiefs LB Nick Bolton and [New York] Jets LB C.J. Mosley $16,883 each and [Los Angeles] Rams DE Desjuan Johnson $5,191 for hip-drop tackles last week,” Pelissero continued on September 21.

The insider reminded that there have been “no [hip-drop tackle] penalties” so far, but there have been “four fines in Week 2 as the league attempts to get the newly outlawed play out of the game.” Bolton is the latest example of that.

The third and final fine from this outing went to Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas, who was penalized for “a bow-and-arrow celebration last week.”

“The NFL fined Bengals WR Andrei Iosivas $5,305 for unsportsmanlike conduct/violent gesture,” Pelissero posted.

Iosivas was most likely mimicking a popular Chiefs celebration made famous by superstar tight end Travis Kelce, among others, but the NFL has been cracking down on any and all celebrations that can be deemed violent. That appears to be the case for the bow-and-arrow now too.

UPDATE: The Sports Place’s Arye Pulli also reported a Week 2 fine of $11,255 for Chiefs rookie first rounder Xavier Worthy, although this fine has not been confirmed by Pelissero or any of the KC beat members at this time. Pulli said that Worthy’s punishment stemmed from an in-game celebration where he pointed “finger guns” at Bengals safety Vonn Bell.

Chiefs Backfield Called No. 1 ‘Thing to Watch’ in Week 3 vs. Falcons

Despite the trio of Saturday fines, the Chiefs are on to Atlanta and a road matchup versus the Falcons on Sunday Night Football.

According to Arrowhead Pride lead analyst Ron Kopp Jr., the number one storyline to watch in Week 3 is the KC backfield without starting running back Isiah Pacheco.

“Pacheco is out for an extended period after fracturing his fibula in Week 2,” Kopp began. “In response, the team signed practice squad back Keaontay Ingram to the active roster and signed former Kansas City running back Kareem Hunt to the practice squad.”

“Hunt may generate the most excitement among Chiefs’ fans, but undrafted rookie Carson Steele is likely to get the first opportunity to fill Pacheco’s role,” the Chiefs analyst went on. “In the preseason, Steele’s downhill running style forced nine missed tackles over 11 rushes; 81 of his 87 rushing yards came after contact.”

Kopp also noted that veteran Samaje Perine “profiles as the passing-down back to complement the starter” but may not be limited to that role considering his experience.

“However the Chiefs dice up the backfield snaps, there should be chances to make plays,” Kopp concluded. “Atlanta has allowed 323 rushing yards over the first two weeks after facing the league’s fourth-most rushing attempts.”

Hunt will not be elevated for the Week 3 outing, meaning Kansas City will roll with some combination of Steele, Perine and Ingram for now.