Ja'Marr Chase enters NFL concussion protocol. How long will he be out?

Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase left Cincinnati’s Week 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after suffering a concussion.

Here’s what happened and what his recovery timeline could look like.

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Chase was injured during the Bengals‘ home game on Oct. 4. He went to the locker room during the second quarter for a concussion evaluation after taking a hard hit following a 4-yard reception from quarterback Joe Burrow.

The five-time Pro Bowler entered the blue medical tent accompanied by an independent neurologist and appeared likely to undergo further evaluation for a head injury, according to The Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway.

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Chase was initially listed as questionable to return but was later ruled out after undergoing a concussion evaluation, according to USA TODAY.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor did not provide an update about Chase’s status during his postgame news conference. Recovery times for concussions vary by player and severity, but NBC Sports and CBS Sports reported that the NFL’s median recovery time is nine days.

According to the NFL’s concussion protocol, every player diagnosed with a concussion must follow a five-step process before they can be cleared to fully practice or participate in an NFL game.

After a player has completed the five-step process and is cleared for full participation by his team’s physician, he must be seen and separately cleared by an Independent Neurological Consultant (INC), approved by the NFL and NFL Players Association.

A player may not return to practice or game action until cleared by an independent physician. The NFL does not set a specific timetable for completing the protocol.

Below is a look at the play that left Chase injured:

Mitchell Tinsley is listed as Chase’s backup on the Bengals’ depth chart. The 27-year-old from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, signed with Cincinnati ahead of Week 4 after spending the start of the 2026 season on the Houston Texans’ practice squad.

Tinsley spent the 2025 NFL season with the Bengals. He recorded eight catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns across 17 games (four starts).

The Enquirer’s Dave Clark contributed to this report.