Bengals stars Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins fined…
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals large receiver Ja’Marr Chase confirmed Thursday the league fined him and teammate Tee Higgins for their new “people’s elbow” celebration.
Chase insisted the “people’s elbow” celebration, which includes grabbing his proper elbow with his left hand and flopping the proper arm ahead, isn’t the type of off-color humor others have made it out to be on social media, and they’re merely creating a new manner to signal a first down.
The NFL disagreed and fined both receivers. The first offense for an unsportsmanlike conduct positive is $14,926 while taunting offenses are $11,941.
#Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase says the NFL fined him this week for doing the “peoples elbow” after his TD on Sunday.”This is where the superstars have to get in with NFLPA and fight for our money. I’m getting fined for an elbow. … It’s a wresting move.”pic.twitter.com/KWdzPFgxUq— Ari Meirov (@MySportsReplace) September 24, 2026
According to The Athletic, Higgins was fined 4 instances and Chase twice with the full reaching $89,556.
“We got fined for the people’s elbow stuff,” Chase said. “I would love to appeal it. It’s something we made up, and then everybody else saying what it is. Everybody gonna have their own opinion of what it looked like.”
Chase, who has been fined six instances by the league for varied infractions, said he hopes the latest punishments from the league spur motion within the NFLPA.
The league also fined San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk for what he claimed was a misinterpreted celebration. The league said the positive was for imitating chugging a beer, but Juszczyk, whose nickname is “Juice,” said he’s been doing the celebration for years and he’s just consuming his juice.
“I think this is where the superstars have to get in with the NFLPA and fight for our money because if he’s getting fined for doing a drinking gesture, a juice gesture and I’m getting fined for an elbow and doing the first down thing, I don’t know,” Chase said.
“I don’t even think we can tweet about it because we get fined for tweeting about it,” Chase added. “So like it’s really like players gotta keep their mouth shut and deal with it. We gotta have a superstar in the NFLPA to do something about it, help us along the way.”
Bengals large receiver Ja’marr Chase (1) reacts to his landing against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
Chase’s six profession fines have totaled $613,162 and embody a earlier obscene gesture designation when he flashed two center fingers at Pittsburgh security Minkah Fitzpatrick in the 2022 season opener.
Last season, Chase was suspended for one recreation for spitting on Pittsburgh cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The suspension value him $507,156. The Bengals face the Steelers (1-1) on Sunday.
He’s also been fined for verbally abusing an official at Kansas City in 2024 ($31,599), an obscene gesture in a 2024 recreation against Baltimore ($19,697) and taunting against the Chiefs in 2022 ($15,914).
Ja’Marr Chase speaks with media during a press convention at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. USA TODAY Network via GWN Connect
Bengals large receiver Andrei Iosivas efficiently appealed a positive for a “violent gesture” when he used a bow-and-arrow celebration after a landing in Kansas City in 2024.
Iosivas hasn’t used the celebration since profitable the appeal.
Chase is hoping what he believes is a imprecise gesture will lead to he and Higgins profitable their appeal, but he didn’t commit to not utilizing the celebration in the function, even demonstrating a attainable to tweak to it during his news convention.
“This is literally like a wrestling move,” he said. “It was something different for us, something new, something we’re trying to be unique. They’re just stopping the fun.”
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