Ja’Marr Chase just got slapped with an NFL fine for his Week 2 touchdown celebration, and the Bengals’ star wideout is absolutely fuming about it. This isn’t just a slap on the wrist for a simple move; Chase is challenging the league directly, demanding players stand up for their right to celebrate.
The “Wrestling Move” That Cost Him
The Bengals are off to a hot 2-0 start this 2026 season after a big Week 2 win over the Houston Texans. Their defense was looking great, but man, the offense really showed up against a tough Texans D. And you know who delivered? Ja’Marr Chase, their number one receiver, hauled in an incredible touchdown catch in that game, easily one of the best grabs of the season so far. But the celebration that followed? That’s where the NFL stepped in.
Chase confirmed at a Thursday press conference, first reported by Mike Petraglia of CLNSCincy.com, that he’d been fined for his “new celebration.” He described the move as “literally like a wrestling move,” but whatever the NFL interpreted it as, it was enough for them to hit his wallet. It echoes the situation with Kyle Juszczyk, who got fined for a mock “juice” drinking gesture that the league apparently saw as alcohol. Seriously? Fining a guy for a wrestling move or a juice celebration seems ridiculous when you see the athleticism involved in making these plays.
Chase Claps Back: “Fight For Our Money”
Chase is not holding back. He’s clearly not a fan of getting dinged for a celebration, and he’s not just appealing the fine; he’s putting the entire league and the NFLPA on blast. “I think this is where superstars have to get in with the NFLPA and fight for our money because if (Kyle Juszczyk) is getting fined for doing a drinking gesture, a juice gesture, then I mean I’m getting fined for an elbow… doing the first down,” Chase vented.
He continued, laying out the frustrating reality for players: “I mean, I can’t really do much about it. I mean, we can complain. I don’t even think we can tweet about it because we get fined for tweeting about it. But like, it’s really like players got to be much everything. But we got to have a superstar in the NFLPA to help us along the way.” Chase is basically saying players are handcuffed, unable to express themselves without penalty, and can’t even publicly complain without more fines. He wants a “superstar” on the NFLPA to step up and truly advocate for players against these kind of fines.
This ain’t just about a few bucks for Chase; it’s about player expression and the league dictating how much fun guys can have. He’s not backing down, planning to find a way to keep celebrating with style, fine or no fine. Keep an eye on the NFLPA because Chase is putting them on notice, calling for a superstar to step up and fight these fines.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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