Drops have plagued Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase throughout his first NFL preseason. Last weekend’s horrendous showing against Washington and again in team practice on Sunday might’ve just been an anomaly, but the 2021 first-round pick needed to prove otherwise in his next game.
After another drop on Sunday, concern about Chase’s rookie year is at an all-time high.
The Bengals starters took the field to start their finale preseason game against the Miami Dolphins this afternoon. Second-year quarterback Joe Burrow was greeted warmly by the Cincinnati home crowd and almost immediately ran a play to build up his rookie wide receiver’s confidence.
Burrow threw a bubble screen to Chase on his second snap on Sunday. Despite the fairly simple play, Chase dropped the pass.
That would be the only target he would get in the Bengals preseason finale. Cincinnati’s coaching staff pulled the team’s starters early on to rest them for the regular season opener in two weeks.
In fairness to Chase, Miami cornerback Nik Needham was almost on top of him when he tried to make the catch. Nevertheless, that’s a play that an NFL wide receiver should make, so fans and media members were worried that dropping passes has become a trend for the rookie.
Bengals fans to Ja’Marr Chase pic.twitter.com/ifHEpGe2FN
— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) August 29, 2021
Ja’marr chase is playing too fast. Obviously nfl game is faster than college but he has to slow down
— year 19 (@johnrivers131) August 29, 2021
Mentally right now Ja’Marr Chase is me standing over any 3-foot putt
— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) August 29, 2021
Ja’Marr Chase has some essplainin to do. pic.twitter.com/UcgdpT9jHN
— Kate Magdziuk (@FFballblast) August 29, 2021
Although Chase might have his fair share of critics, some fans and media members made sure to point out that it’s just the preseason and the rookie still needs some time to settle in.
Ja’Marr Chase will be fine.
Ja’Marr Chase will be fine.
Ja’Marr Chase will be fine.
Ja’Marr Chase will be fine.
Ja’Marr Chase will be fine.— Matt Edwards (@MattEdwards) August 29, 2021
A lot of drops are mental and when a player takes his eyes off the ball too quickly. Ja’Marr Chase should be fine. I think his frequent drops are getting to his head. #Bengals
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) August 29, 2021
Interestingly enough, reports from Bengals practice this past week indicated that Chase was putting together his strongest stretch of camp yet. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic shared details of one of the highlight catches that the former LSU product made mid-week.
“Ja’Marr Chase with a really nice over the shoulder adjustment on a deep ball down the sideline from Burrow against Mike Hilton. Even a celebratory Griddy,” Dehner wrote on Twitter. “He’s had a fantastic week of four straight impressive practices coming off the Washington game and rough Sunday practice.”
That report indicates that Chase does have what it takes to turn things around. However, he’s running out of time with the Bengals season opener just two weeks away.
The post Fans Are Starting To Get Concerned With Ja’Marr Chase appeared first on The Spun.
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