The first-round selection for the Cincinnati Bengals is going to need to step up in a big way on Sunday.
A player who has received plenty of hype since he was drafted by the Bengals is Ja’Marr Chase. Before the preseason Chase was being viewed as the next great wide receiver and a game-changer for Cincinnati. Pairing him with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd created a trifecta of great pass catchers.
Fast forward to watching Chase in preseason action and drops became a real concern. Reports have gone back and forth on Chase in practice, so in a best-case scenario, it would seem Chase has been inconsistent.
Chase is going to need to figure things out for the Bengals to be successful. He is going to get a huge share on snaps as the team and coaching staff work to establish what he is. Given that he has sat out of meaningful football for close to two years now, the hope is that he is just working at shaking off the rust.
Sunday will be a great showcase of what Chase can really do for this team. Struggle and he could see his place on the depth chart become more precarious as Cincinnati wants to avoid another John Ross situation. However, a good game could easily see him become an instant fan favorite and key cog for the Bengals.