CINCINNATI — The months main as much as this season had been something however regular and peaceable for Cincinnati Bengals vast receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Chase didn’t take part in any coaching camp practices as he tried to get a contract extension that by no means materialized. So when he caught his first landing of the season final Monday in a loss to the Washington Commanders, Chase stated it offered a way of aid.
And he is again to having fun with the sport.
“All this BS that was occurring this offseason and previous to the season, I am simply glad that it is over with,” Chase stated Thursday. “I am lastly taking part in ball and having enjoyable with the fellows. That is what issues most for me.”
Chase stated he’s feeling “nice” regardless of coping with a shoulder damage. He was estimated to have been a restricted participant Wednesday if the staff had practiced as a substitute of holding a walk-through. However on Thursday, he was a full participant as Cincinnati ready for a highway sport towards the Carolina Panthers (1-2).
A 3-time Professional Bowler, Chase is coming off his greatest efficiency of the season within the 38-33 defeat at house to the Commanders, a loss that dropped the Bengals to 0-3. He caught six passes on seven targets for 128 yards and two touchdowns, his best outing since Week 13 of final season.
It was a vastly completely different outing than the primary two video games of the season, when he was working his method again into the lineup following a busy coaching camp. Regardless of months of negotiations, Chase and the Bengals failed to succeed in a deal earlier than the beginning of the season, which served as a tender deadline to succeed in a brand new deal.
Chase stated taking part in merely felt like a job within the opening weeks, which included losses to the New England Patriots and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
However all it took was a giant play and a giant sport to snap out of the funk. Cincinnati is hoping the identical factor occurs to the staff. The Bengals are off to their worst begin since 2019, once they misplaced their first 11 video games of the season and completed with the league’s worst document.
Chase stated the staff wants a win towards Carolina “a thousand p.c.” The Bengals are already in tough sufficient form. Solely six groups within the Tremendous Bowl period have misplaced the primary three video games of the season and made the playoffs, in response to ESPN Analysis.
The Bengals have dropped their first three video games by a mixed 12 factors. Chase stated he believes they’re on the cusp of touchdown that first victory.
“We’re proper there,” Chase stated. “We’re not too distant. We simply received to complete in the long run, and that is the most important factor proper now.”