Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase turns heads with comments about usage

So far, the 2023 season is off to a slow start for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

That tracks, given the calf injury to quarterback Joe Burrow that has clearly limited the offense even before he re-injured it during the loss to the Ravens.

Through two games, Chase has just 10 catches for 70 yards on 17 targets, with fans noticing that the star wideout isn’t getting open like others of similar caliber around the league.

The Monday after that loss to the Ravens, Chase offered thoughts about his usage, courtesy of Fox 19’s Joe Danneman: “Be patient. Tee had the hot hand. We gotta get some go routes in there, get some downfield shots, that way we can come back to anything else underneath.”

But the problem is a little more complex than that given the opponents (AFC North fights with the Browns and Ravens) and Burrow’s injury that limits the playbook due to his apparent discomfort when planting and throwing.

Still, Chase wanting to mix in more deep looks so the underneath stuff has a better chance of succeeding and more pre-snap motion that might reveal what a defense wants to do before the snap is sensible.

Two minutes with Ja’Marr Chase on his usage, patience, Joe Burrow and wanting more go-balls. #Bengals pic.twitter.com/ZS1Iqw3eTq

— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) September 18, 2023