Ja’Marr Chase passed John Ross’ career yardage total with Bengals in 7 games

The Cincinnati Bengals have now experienced both extreme ends of how a gamble on a first-round wide receiver can play out.

Back in 2017, the Bengals used the ninth overall pick on John Ross, who appeared in 27 games with the team, totaling 733 yards and 10 touchdowns on 123 targets.

Ja’Marr Chase has 754 yards and six touchdowns on 51 targets — in seven games with the Bengals.

This stunning perspective illustrates just how wild Chase’s start has been, but it also fully paints the picture as to the rocky pro career for Ross.

There was a time when Ross looked like the big-play weapon the Bengals desperately needed to make the offense more dynamic. But injuries hindered his development and a coaching staff quick to sit him down after a mistake didn’t help. Ross would score seven times as a solid weapon in the red zone in 2018, but that was not a sign of things to come.

As for Chase, his epic pace after reuniting with Joe Burrow via this year’s fifth pick already has him re-writing the record books — he’s got the most yardage of any receiver in NFL history over his first seven games.

If Chase continues on this pace, he’ll take first place in more franchise and leaguewide records. In the meantime, the jury remains out on Ross, who is still just 25 years old.