Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown was forced to leave their dramatic encounter with the Denver Broncos after suffering a controversial injury in the dying seconds of regular time.

With the score locked at 17-17 heading into the final 90 seconds, and his team in need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, Brown ran towards the end zone and slid at the one-yard line instead of going for the touchdown in an attempt to run down the clock, only to get himself injured in the process.

After shipping a heavy tackle from Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper and falling awkwardly, the Bengals star left the field and entered the blue tent before he was ruled out with a sprained ankle.

However, fans were left in disbelief when Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow ran through for a touchdown on the very next play, making Brown’s decision to slide at the one-yard line seem rather futile.

‘So if they were gonna score anyway, what was the point of Chase Brown doing that,’ one fan wrote on X.

Another posted: ‘Chase Brown literally got hurt for nothing. Unbelievable’.

Bengals star Chase Brown (No. 30) suffered a controversial ankle injury against the Broncos

Chase Brown goes down instead of scoring the TD 👀Pain for anytime TD (-185) bettors 😭pic.twitter.com/FL3QQHrMJn

— Pikkit (@pikkitsports) December 29, 2024

So if they were gonna score anyway, what was the point of Chase Brown doing that

— Kev (@klew24) December 29, 2024

Chase Brown hurt himself not scoring just for Burrow to QB sneak in for a touchdown …. Like wtf man 😭😂

— K E V (@KevvGee__) December 29, 2024

Glad he wrecked his ankle to save 3 seconds

— JZ (@jpz1598) December 29, 2024 Read More Fans brutally mock Joe Burrow over ‘weird’ outfit ahead of Bengals game: ‘Dude dresses like he’s 14’

‘Chase Brown hurt himself not scoring just for Burrow to QB sneak in for a touchdown …. Like wtf man,’ said a third.

A fourth asked: ‘How would you feel if your [sic] chase brown and you injured yourself going down at the one then you scored anyways then it went to overtime? ‘Youd probly [sic] be pretty p***ed off just answered my own question’.

‘They should have kneeled on the play Chase Brown got injured on,’ a fifth user claimed. ‘If he’s instructed not to score, what’s the point in gaining those 5 yards with a run?’ 

While one sarcastically put: ‘Glad he wrecked his ankle to save 3 seconds’.

To add to their fury, the Broncos got the ball back and scored a touchdown of their own to force overtime, where the Bengals would be without Brown.

The drama continued in overtime when Cincinnati kicker Cade York missed the chance to be the hero after doinking a potential game-winning field goal, but fortunately for the hosts that gut-wrenching moment did not prove a fatal one.

After getting the ball back for another possession, Burrow picked out Tee Higgins in the end zone for the crucial winning touchdown which keeps the Bengals alive and kicking in the playoff hunt.

It remains to be seen whether Brown returns to fitness in time for their pivotal outing against the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday.