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Chase separated his shoulder in the fourth
quarter of Cincinnati's 27-24 overtime victory against the
Minnesota Vikings last Saturday. NFL Network reported Monday
that he could end up missing multiple weeks of action for the
Bengals (8-6).
"We ultimately made the decision it wasn't going to happen,"
Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said Thursday of playing Chase
against the Steelers (7-7).
Chase did not participate in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd will be expected to step up
in his absence.
Pittsburgh's Mason Rudolph took over for Mitchell Trubisky last
week and will make his first start since 2021 on Saturday.
Trubisky struggled in place of Pickett, who underwent ankle
surgery aiming to expedite his recovery from a high ankle sprain
sustained against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 3.
"I've got a lot of good relationships with the guys in the
locker room," Rudolph said. "I think anytime you're here as long
as I've been here, you had better have some or you're probably
not a good dude.
"Guys are excited for me and I'm excited to go out there. As the
third-string quarterback, (do) you feel like you are really
earning your paycheck week to week? And so, I finally get to
earn it this week and put my hand in the pile and go fight for
victory together."
The Bengals are in the thick of the AFC playoff race and are
already playing without starting quarterback Joe Burrow, who
sustained a season-ending wrist injury in a 34-20 loss to the
Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16. Jake Browning has taken over under
center.
Chase, 23, leads the team in catches (93), receiving yards
(1,156) and touchdowns (seven) in 14 games this season.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Chase has 261 receptions for
3,657 yards and 29 touchdowns in 43 career games. He was
selected by the Bengals with the fifth overall pick of the 2021
NFL Draft out of LSU.
--Field Level Media
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