CINCINNATI – Bengals rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase didn’t shy away from one of the team’s biggest preseason stories.
Throughout the low season, training camp and preseason games, this year’s fifth overall selection has struggled with repeated relegations. In his first press conference since the issue became more pronounced, Chase said the lost catches came from a lack of concentration and concentration. He admitted he didn’t get as much out of his first NFL preseason as he expected.
“I know I left a lot of things out there,” Chase said. “But it’s all the time for me to improve, of course. I’m not afraid to improve. That’s why I’m here: work, improve, improve the team, improve the organization.” In his 2019 season at LSU, Chase went falling 4.8% of its targets, according to ESPN Stats & Information, which was just below the average for Five Power wide receivers. That year, he led that group to receive playgrounds and touchdowns and received the Biletnikoff Award, which receives the best receiver in college football.
Still, the transition hasn’t been as smooth for Chase since he arrived in Cincinnati. He failed to grab four of his five goals in the preseason, including quarterback Joe Burrow’s only step since he had knee surgery.
“If you look back, I jumped into the air when the ball hit me,” Chase said. “That means my eyes weren’t focused on the ball. I didn’t stand still. So that makes my visual adjustments make the ball move.”
On Monday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor didn’t look too upset with Chase’s preseason, as Cincinnati prepares for the team’s season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. The third-year coach said he trusted Chase.
“I see the way it’s prepared in the building during practice, so I don’t have those concerns,” Taylor said. “We’ll just move on and expect great things from him.”
The former LSU standout said not playing in 2020 after opting to leave the season could influence his first numbers. Chase also referred to the adaptation to catch the biggest ball the NFL uses and which also has different marks.
He has spent a lot of time in the low season working on his problems. He said he takes 40 tennis balls a day to work on hand-eye coordination and has done exercises with the Jugs soccer machine. Despite his struggles, Chase did not lack confidence.
Chase seemed to enjoy the idea of facing the Vikings ’defensive back, Patrick Peterson, one of the best defensive defenders LSU has ever produced. Peterson, 31, is a three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl player.
“I could put Patrick Peterson on my most prominent tape,” Chase said. “He may be crazy I say, but hey, you know what I’m saying, it’s part of the game. I’d love to make a play for him.” Before his official NFL debut, Chase said he was relaxed for the most part and wanted to show why the Bengals recruited him.
“Everyone wants to see this and that, but I’m excited to literally show myself,” Chase said. “I’m excited to do what I’ve come to do here.”
Waynes vs. former team: Bengals starting linebacker Trae Waynes will not play the Week 1 game against the Vikings, Taylor said Monday. Eli Apple will get the start after Waynes suffered a hamstring injury in one of the final days of training camp. Since the Bengals did not place Waynes on the injured reserve, Taylor said, the team expects him to be able to play Week 2 or Week 3.
Waynes has not played for the Bengals since signing a three-year, $ 42 million contract last season. Waynes broke a pectoral muscle and lost the entire 2020 season.