Asked if he could make changes following the Cincinnati Bengals’ most recent loss, star receiver Ja’Marr Chase said he’d change something if he could, although he didn’t get more specific than that.
The Bengals’ 24-0 shutout loss to the Ravens at Paycor Stadium on Dec. 14 dropped Cincinnati to 4-10. The team’s slim playoff hopes ended, too, as the Bengals were officially eliminated from the postseason for a third consecutive season.
“If I had a say so, it probably would be something (to change) but I don’t know what I could do,” Chase said. “All I can control is what I can control.”
Chase didn’t mention the coaching staff, personnel or scouting staff members. Many are discussing those as areas of need in the organization, but Chase cited supporting quarterback Joe Burrow as one specific thing he could do.
“If I’m being honest, I’ve never been in a situation with him (Burrow) where I’ve had to uplift him, but going forward I might need to because he does it for me,” Chase said. “You never know what he might be going through. I might need to start doing that.”
Burrow’s Dec. 10 news conference created a storyline that could last well into the offseason after his comments caused some to speculate about how much he enjoys his current role. After losing to the Ravens, Burrow said his comments of earlier in the week “had nothing to do with Cincinnati. They had everything to do with me and my mindset, and football.”
The hyper-scrutiny of Burrow’s body language and words relative to the team’s first losing season since 2020 is already
On the field, Chase’s support of Burrow is beyond question. Chase had 10 catches for 132 yards on Dec. 14 and also reached the 100-catch threshold on the season.
Chase’s post-game comments gave credence to the idea that Burrow was dismayed in some respect, and that he could potentially act to relieve stressors outside of football.
Chase backed his quarterback publicly during his Dec. 12 news conference, all but shooting down the notion that Burrow wasn’t happy with the Bengals.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here’s one thing Ja’Marr Chase said he could change about the Bengals
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
