CINCINNATI — Ever since arriving in Cincinnati in 2021, setting goals has been a big part of how Ja’Marr Chase gets in the right mindset for the upcoming year.
It was a little delayed in 2024 but he eventually got there.
Chase has left no doubt that he wanted to set the new team records for receiving touchdowns, yards and catches. Well, he not only did that last year, he led the league in all three for a vaunted “Triple Crown” of receiving, something that had been accomplished just four times since the 1970 merger.
But Chase is also keenly aware that the last two seasons have ended after Week 18 without any playoff appearances. That has left a sour taste in his mouth, something he made clear in an 18-minute session with reporters following Tuesday’s OTAs outside Paycor Stadium.
“Really, my biggest thing this year, going forward, is making the playoffs. Man, we’ve got to get to the playoffs. That’s my first step. But team goal is to win the division,” Chase said. “It’s been like every other off season, just trying to stay focused, make sure I’m getting in my right routines, and making sure I’m healthy, staying in shape, coming back, and just protecting the team.
“I know y’all want to know because I done did the most absurd BS last year, you know? So I did a lot last year. I can’t tell y’all my goals.”
What is left for Chase from an individual standpoint?
“I know, what is left? It’s my question mark, too,” Chase admitted, after catching 127 passes for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024.
Last season was a contradiction in terms for the newly-minted $161 million receiver. He had the best season of his career but it started off with bitterness at the lack of a new deal and a game in Kansas City where he felt he was getting roughed up by Chiefs defensive backs. He decided at that point to go back to his rookie year roots.
“I played with more of a with a chip on my shoulder like my rookie year,” Chase said. “There was a lot on my mind, as everyone’s seen from my Kansas City clip, me crashing out. I’m glad that I got I got that off my chest.”
It’s that chip that he looks for every offseason in setting goals.
“Stay motivated. Find ways to have a chip. Because we didn’t make the playoffs two years straight. So that’s my chip right there,” Chase said.
As for individual goals, Chase said this is about the time he starts to formulate what he wants to accomplish for the coming year. But he wasn’t about to divulge what he’s thinking about.
“It is right about now (but) I’m not telling y’all yet, though, but right now is the time where I start to put it together,” Chase told me.
One thing that has crossed his mind is repeating the Triple Crown, something no receiver has ever accomplished.
“Yeah, it is possible. It’s possible. We’ll see what happens,” Chase said.
Then there’s the leadership that comes with his new contract. Chase expects to assume the duties that come with being an offensive captain.
“I always looked at myself as a leader, not verbally, but through my actions. I hold people accountable. I speak up if I have to, but it’s a little more I want to say obvious that I have to be a captain this year, going with the deal. But I still play my role. I don’t talk as much, but I speak up when I have to.”
One of the players he’s keeping a close eye on is Jermaine Burton. He said the second-year player who had trouble with showing up on time late last season, has demonstrated improvement on and off the field so far.
“He’s getting better, man, definitely improving. There’s always more improvement to get done. So, you know, just making sure you get better every day and going forward.”
Chase said he can see Burton getting more comfortable lining up, knowing where he’s supposed to be and playing with more speed.
Chase was in rare form Tuesday, discussing such topics as:
Starting fast: “With me and Tee (signed), hopefully that’s a start faster move right there. I hope so.”
On playing in the preseason: “I just go out there and do what I’m told to do and make a play. That’s not up to me. If it was up to me, I wouldn’t be out there. If it was up to me, no, of course not. You asked, ‘Do I want to play?’ Not really. No, no, no. I think we do the I don’t mind, like a series, but that’s literally all we do. We get out there and you don’t really feel mentally ready for a game like that. For me, I don’t think I do. I’m not gonna speak for everybody else.”
Great defensive backs on the schedule like Pat Surtain II (Denver), Jaire Alexander (Green Bay), Christian Gonzalez (New England), Denzel Ward (Cleveland 2x): “There’s a lot of DBs on the schedule. I just see a lot of DBs that’s in my way, like all DBS on the schedule.”
On Justin Jefferson in Week 3: “We two play the same spot, brother. Of course (I stat check after game). I’m gonna do that. Hell yeah. But we already talked about some things, but I don’t know about I just think it’s gonna be fun to go against him again. That’s what I’m saying. It brings a thrill for both of us, playing against each other, getting excited, knowing we both gonna put on the show. So it’s just trying to pass that.” But Chase said the competition doesn’t get much more serious than watching either other. “We’re so past that. Nah bro, we too old for that. We just too old for that, bro, we don’t got time to be doing that. Bro, that’s childish.”
Olympic flag football, Chase has questions that need answering: “I don’t know how I feel about it, if I’m being completely honest. I don’t know. I want to hear more. I want to hear more information about it. I want to know the timing for us off season and season. I want to know if we’re getting paid. I want to know were we traveling every other week or every day? Like, all that plays a part, because we have an off season. We have a life. Also, how long would that be? I don’t know, there’s a lot of questions to it. I think it’s pretty cool, but I’m not really 100 percent on it yet.”
On Trey Hendrickson: “I think y’all don’t know nothing about what’s going on until it comes out. I think the media is just trying to find key notes, or maybe ‘I got inside sources that’s telling y’all keynotes. So ,I don’t think it affects nothing. I don’t think nothing affects nothing. The only thing that affects the person, the player, I would say, the organization, but the business of the process, that’s all. It’s not outside noise. It’s more the business part that you’ve never been through.”
Other notes from this week:
The first-team offensive line in full offense drills “on air” (without defense) was: Orlando Brown Jr. LT, Dylan Fairchild LG, Ted Karras C, Lucas Patrick RG, Amarius Mims RT.
Lots of clutching and grabbing in an interesting exchange between Ja’Marr Chase and Cam Taylor-Britt, with Chase falling to the grass and calling for a flag. The two chirped back and forth.
Jalen Davis picked off Jake Browning in a 7-on-7 drill.
With Dax Hill not in uniform as he continues his rehab from ACL surgery, Josh Newton saw some time at slot corner with Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner getting reps on the outside.
Rookie linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (unsigned) was on the field with Logan Wilson, playing on the first unit in 7-on-7 drills.
Rookie edge Shemar Stewart (unsigned) was still not on the field participating.
Ja’Marr Chase spent a good amount of time talking to safeties Geno Stone and Jordan Battle during practice Tuesday. “It’s good. I feel like just them having a new defense and me seeing old tendencies and new tendencies that I might point out and help them with,” Chase said. “I feel like they could do the same with me. But I do that to talk here, just to tell them I’m seeng this, so don’t do it. So, small things like that.”
BJ Hill was out of his walking boot on his left foot.
Tuesday marked the first day of OTAs with helmets on, allowing for limited offense vs. defense skill exercises and reps. There is no tackling permitted until pads go on in training camp, usually in the second week.
Bengals columnist and multimedia reporter since 2021. Jungle Roar Podcast Host. Reds writer. UC football, UC Xavier basketball. Joined CLNS Media in 2017. Covered Boston sports as a radio broadcaster, reporter, columnist and TV and video talent since 1993. Covered Boston Red Sox for MLB.com from 2000-2007 and the New England Patriots between 1993-2019 for ESPN Radio, WBZ-AM, SiriusXM, WEEI, WEEI.com and CLNS.
