Bengals should be concerned about Ja’Marr Chase?

Head coach Zac Taylor gave that the rookie wide receiver’s problems could stem from his process of acclimating to the NFL, after not playing since the 2019 college campaign
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals won’t let a lethargic preseason ruin their expectations for rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said to expect Chase to get some consistency over time after a rough stretch for the fifth overall draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Chase struggled with dropped passes and did not record a catch on three passes targeted during Cincinnati’s game last Friday against Washington Football Team.

Two days later, Taylor said the Bengals still feel quite optimistic about Chase’s immediate future.

“By no means are we disappointed in Ja’Marr,” Taylor said, prior to Sunday’s practice. “He’s experiencing some of the things that rookies go through in training camp, and we expect him to get better throughout the week.”

Chase came to the NFL with high expectations despite opting not to play during college soccer’s 2020 campaign. He earned the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s top wide receiver, in 2019, his final year with LSU.

As Chase pursues NFL success, his former teammate with LSU and current Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has provided plenty of praise for his top target.

“I’m excited about where he’s at,” Burrow said last week. “He’s going to make a lot of big plays for us. We’re going to get him the ball in space, and he’s going to score a lot of touchdowns.”

Burrow, who has yet to play in the preseason as he recovers from knee surgery performed last December, stressed that he doesn’t have to say anything when Chase or any other player drops a pass. Chase was not available to the media in Washington.

Taylor gave that Chase’s problems could stem from his process of acclimating to the NFL after not playing since 2019, but it’s hard to know for sure.

“The expectations are so high, you expect him to be stellar from minute one,” Taylor cautioned. “But it takes work. You have to put in the work. Consistency comes with time.”