Ja’Marr Chase was back on the practice field in pads for the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, just days after taking a concussion in their 22-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That’s got to be a massive relief for a 2-2 team that’s dropped two straight and is seriously looking to snap that losing streak this Sunday. Chase is still in protocol, but getting him back out there is a huge step in the right direction.
Two Star Receivers, Two Different Comebacks
While Chase was geared up, his fellow star wideout Tee Higgins was on a side field doing individual work, sans pads. Higgins, who hurt his adductor late in their Week 4 game, didn’t even see the field Wednesday. The team’s injury report now lists him with a neck issue right alongside that adductor problem. So, Chase is further along, clearly, but just having both those guys out there, even in different capacities, is a positive vibe for a squad that’s hurting. You know these two. They’re both among the 15 highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL, according to Over the Cap, and they’ve both put up over 200 receiving yards already this season. Higgins, the 2020 second-round pick out of Clemson, leads the team with 25 catches and 401 receiving yards. Chase, the 2021 No. 5 overall pick, is tied for second with 21 grabs, and his 212 receiving yards are the second-most on the team. Plus, his three touchdown receptions tie for first. They are Joe Burrow’s go-to guys, no question, and whether they can actually play Sunday against the 0-4 Miami Dolphins is still up in the air.
Cincinnati’s Offensive Woes Run Deep
The Bengals offense has been leaning heavily on Burrow and the passing game, maybe too heavily. Against the Jaguars, they attempted a whopping 54 passes but only ran the ball 15 times. You see the problem there, right? Cincinnati currently ranks second to last in the entire NFL with a measly 74.3 rushing yards per game and is tied for 26th with 3.6 yards per carry. Burrow said postgame this past Sunday he’s cool with throwing even more, but come on. That’s just going to throw off their offensive balance even further, and it’s even tougher when your receiving corps is basically held together with duct tape. Andrei Iosivas is on injured reserve with a thumb issue that needed surgery, and rookie Colbie Young went down with a knee injury back in their Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh. That meant against the Jags, guys like Mitch Tinsley, Dohnte Meyers, and tight end Mike Gesicki had to step up. Tinsley, who pulled in a couple of touchdowns for Cincinnati last season but was on the Texans’ practice squad most recently, snagged three balls for 49 yards. Meyers, a former CFL standout, came away with seven receptions for 82 yards. Gesicki added three catches for 40 yards and a score. Those guys did alright, but they aren’t the primary weapons.
Here’s the thing about Sunday, though: the Bengals are playing the 0-4 Miami Dolphins, and Miami’s defense has been shockingly generous to opposing passers, allowing them to complete 77.9% of their attempts. Only the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals, both at 8.0 net yards per pass attempt, are giving up more than Miami’s 7.7. That could be a massive lifeline for Burrow and this pass-heavy offense. A chance to end that two-game skid? This is their shot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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