What Bengals HC Said About Ja'Marr Chase's Spitting Incident amid NFL Suspension

The NFL has suspended wideout Ja'Marr Chase one game for spitting at Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey on Sunday.

Chase has the right to appeal the decision.

On Monday, Bengals' head coach Zac Taylor didn't excuse Chase's action but said he still stands behind the star receiver during a press conference held before the suspension was announced.

"First of all, I've always been impressed with how Ja'Marr has handled himself. Because he's in a lot of these situations where he's got a target as a top player. He gets a lot of respect that way. And so guys try to do a lot of things to get his attention, get him off his game," Taylor told reporters Monday (1:20 mark). "I've always thought it was unbelievable how he's handled himself in some really high-pressure, emotional decisions. Obviously what happened is crossing the line. We can't have that. And I know he'll own up to that."

"We're not all perfect," he added later in his press conference. "We're going to make a mistake here and there. But I stand by Ja'Marr. And I know it was an emotional situation. I know there was a lot of things going on there that lead to things like that."

Chase and Ramsey were each penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct in the fourth quarter after a coming together.

Ramsey was then penalized and ejected one play later for throwing a punch at Chase, though after the game a different video angle showed the wideout appearing to spit on the defensive back.

Chase will now miss the team's matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday. The Bengals are 3-7 and hoping to salvage their rapidly decaying playoff aspirations but will have to do so without Chase in Week 12.