CINCINNATI — When you are the very best at your position in one of the most demanding sports in the world, the real challenge is to stay on top.
Last year, Ja’Marr Chase captured just the fifth receiving triple crown since the NFL merger for a team that finished 9-8 for a second straight season. He was rewarded with the biggest contract for a non-quarterback in NFL history at four years, $161 million (since eclipsed by Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt at three years, $123 million).
All due respect to offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher who said earlier in the week that Chase Brown would be a “focal point” of the offense, there’s no disputing that the most explosive weapon in Joe Burrow’s offense is when No. 1 is streaking open downfield.
Chase set club records for catches (127) and yards (1,708) and matched Carl Pickens with 17 receiving touchdowns in 2024. The question is how does he stay at that level, or even pass them in 2025? To Chase it starts with testing his own defense in practice, a defense that is giving Chase and the offense different looks thanks to new defensive coordinator Al Golden.
“Really, just trying to get them better. Secondary wise, on their schemes, on me, Tee (Higgins), on their signals, on holding the disguise more. Those three simple things can make the defense way better on the secondary level,” Chase explained Thursday.
Chase believes Dax Hill can be a big part of helping him stay sharp in practice, once Hill gets back on the field and up to full speed.
“It’s been a minute since I actually faced Dax. But from what I remember, he was really, really fast, man. Played good through the ball. And he had make-up speed,” Chase said. “Those things are good. Once he comes back and gets more fluid at the game and picks up where he left off, I think he’s going to be really good for us.”
The offense struggled with consistency on Day 1 but as they often do, they bounced back immediately Thursday with a couple of deep balls from Burrow to Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas, as well as clean intermediate routes over the middle to Chase.
“I went to Joe after practice, asked him what he thought. I thought we didn’t do so well but I told him don’t dwell on it because, let Tee make two of those catches, he wouldn’t be feeling like that,” Chase said. “And also, the offense wasn’t really in. Don’t get on yourself about something we really didn’t put in. We put in a few basic things, but we can always excel throughout the week. As long as we’re learning and bouncing back from days like that, I think that’s how we improve.”
Chase is more than aware that he has a perfectionist for a quarterback. He appreciates that about his longtime friend. But it’s also a virtue and quality they share.
“He’s hard and critical on himself. I’m the same way. And I need a person like myself to come to me. That’s what Tee does and lets me know it’s OK to mess up. But at the end of the day, you still gotta push yourself,” Chase said.
There’s another difference this year, Chase is actually in camp. Last year, he was “holding in”, attending practice while waiting on the terms of his record extension to be worked out, something that of course didn’t happen until this spring. Chase enjoys the work, enjoys being pushed and that’s what he made clear to Burrow in the huddle on Thursday.
“Not like last year, I’ll tell you that. I love to work. I’m a workaholic,” Chase admitted. “I love to work. Joe asked me today, am I tired? I said, ‘Call the play while I’m tired.’ At the end of the day, when it’s the fourth quarter and I’m tired, they’re not going to ask me if I’m tired. It’s all about how hard you can push yourself at the end of the day, especially on days like this. As long as you get 1% better each day, that’s how you improve.”
But make no mistake, Chase didn’t hate watching from the sidelines last summer as the team was sweating it out in practice. The rest in camp, Chase believes, gave him fresher legs during the season.
“Not at all if I’m being completely honest. I had great legs last year,” Chase said. “Like I said, I love to work. At the end of the day, I get to work on stuff that I didn’t work on last year and getting that real feel from the DB and working on certain things that I wanted to do this year. I get a chance to do it in camp now instead of just doing it in games.”
Chase is another one of the Bengals players that loves practicing in the morning rather than the afternoon.
“I love it. I get to eat after this. I got damn near two hours,” Chase said. “I’m not on special teams, that’s why I can say that. I feel sorry for guys on special teams, because they transition really fast. But I still think it’s still good. In the afternoon, around like three or four o’clock, I get another energy burst and I’m back at it.”
Can All-Pros like Chase just go in and flip on the switch?
“As All Pros, you would want to say that, yeah,” Chase said. “There’s a reason you’re All-Pro at the end of the day and one of the best in the league. So you’re supposed to have on and off switch and go out and do it.”
Other takeaways from Chase on Thursday:
On Trey Hendrickson and guaranteed money in the second year:
“I don’t really know much about what Trey got going on in his situation. I’m not in his situation anymore. I’m sure everyone wants to be treated the same. That’s the hard part with stuff like this. End of the day, it’s not really him making the decision. I just wish the best for him and hope he pull it off.”
Why is it good to have guaranteed money in year 2?
“How many players you know get guaranteed in Year 2?” Chase quipped.
The good ones?
“My point.”
On his Madden ’26 rating that is not a 99:
“I think I caught my rating. I called Chad (Johnson) right away and told him this was the wrong rating,” Chase said, referring to the fact that the former Bengals star receiver is a Madden ratings adjuster. “It should be 99. I hope he is (going to fix it). If he don’t, I’m going to be mad at him.”
On tight end Noah Fant visiting:
“I’m not a closed person. I don’t mind talking a little bit. I can only say so much to him to make him come here. End of the day it’s not his decision – well, it might really be his decision. He knows what we have here. I know he sees the schemes, I know he might like the schemes. That’s why you come take the visit.”
Chase’s expectation for you guys as a team:
“Win the division first. Win the first game. That’s how we are going to make a mark.”
Other highlights from Day 2:
* Bounce back day for Joe Burrow and offense.
* Burrow on target with 50 and 60-yard TD post routes to Andrei Iosivas and Tee Higgins.
* Burrow with perfect touch on sideline route to Higgins over CTB.
* Run game more crisp as Ted Karras noted the improvement in technique in the run blocking.
* Tee Higgins received some stretching at end of practice, came out with about 40 minutes left in practice but only as a precaution. Fully healthy.
* Myles Murphy left on a cart late in practice but was in front of his locker after practice and apparently ok.
* Josh Newton left early in 11s, bent over from the heat, received a towel on his neck. Did not return but again, not serious.
* A little tussle between Karras and Cam Sample early in 11s.
* Desmond Ridder getting snaps with third team unit, looking sharp. Could challenge Jake Browning for second team reps in camp.
* Ja’Marr Chase clowns reporter for his ridiculous “banana-themed” outfit for a hot and humid day bought at a local grocery store.
