Joe Burrow wants to ensure that Ja’Marr Chase reaches rare personal milestone in the last week of regular season
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase registered 1,612 passing yards, 117 receptions and 16 touchdowns through seventeen games.
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Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow (Image via Imago)
Heading into Week 18, Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns ahead of their matchup with the Steelers. Chase would become the fifth receiver ever to be awarded triple crowd since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. The most recent to do so was Cooper Kupp in 2021, recording 145 receptions, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns. On Tuesday, quarterback Joe Burrow assured that the team would work to keep him at the top.
The Cincinnati Bengals are not assured of a playoff spot even if they somehow defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals need help from the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets to defeat the Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins respectively.
Cincinnati’s playoff hopes rest primarily on Joe Burrow and the offense, especially Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow has delivered an outstanding season, leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns. While many believe Burrow deserves MVP consideration, it appears unlikely.
In a transcript by the team’s website, Joe Burrow stated that he will ensure Chase reaching the personal milestone. He went on to add that their careers has been entwined together through college and professional football.
Make sure he gets it. I think a couple of [categories] are pretty out of reach for everybody else. I think he’s got a seven- or eight-catch lead…He works for it. He grinds for it. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime-type player and our careers will forever be tied together from college into the pro landscape. That’s just fun to be a part of.
Joe Burrow stated
Chase leads the NFL with 117 receptions, 1,612 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns. His touchdown total appears secure, as Terry McLaurin and Amon-Ra St. Brown, tied for second, have 12 each. While receptions and yards are still within reach for other players, it would require a significant effort to overtake Chase, St. Brown (109 receptions) and Brock Bowers (104) are the only players within 10 catches of him.
Justin Jefferson, with 1,479 receiving yards, is 133 yards behind Chase, and no other player in the league has surpassed 1,200 yards heading into Week 18. Jefferson could potentially close the gap, especially against a Detroit Lions defense struggling with injuries.
Joe Burrow also wants Bengals to actively avoid players from leaving the team
Joe Burrow has made it clear to the Cincinnati Bengals that they should prioritize retaining Tee Higgins by signing him to a new contract while also securing an extension for Ja’Marr Chase.
The Bengals face the possibility of losing Higgins this offseason as the wide receiver approaches free agency, coinciding with the need to negotiate Chase’s contract extension. Balancing both deals could prove challenging given the team’s limited cap space.
Whenever a great player leaves, you wish you could have found a way to keep them. You don’t want to make a living out of letting great players leave the building. And I think that’s why you want to do everything you can to get these things done early.
Joe Burrow added
With Higgins potentially leaving, the Bengals’ offense, which has already faced difficulties this season, could take a significant hit. This could further jeopardize their playoff chances, given their 8-8 record and reliance on other teams’ results.
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