It turns out after playing all but three of the Bengals' 69 snaps in last Sunday's steamy 84 degrees and grabbing 14 catches, there is more All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase thinks he can do more prepping for this Sunday's game (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Local 12) in Minnesota.
As the Bengals stare at their first game after quarterback Joe Burrow went down with turf toe in that win over the Jaguars, Chase is prepared to make that C on his jersey a capital letter.
Following Thursday's practice in the IEL Indoor Facility, Chase pondered a question about changing his role in Burrow's absence. One of the reasons he got voted the C by his mates is that during spring and training camp he responded to calls from wide receivers coach Troy Walters and head coach Zac Taylor to be more vocal.
"I still want to be myself, and they still want to be my authentic self. But I also want to speak up more," Chase said. "I'm not going to say that was Joe's job, but that was more of his role. I want to say, just being a leader, more of a vocal leader really.
"Like Zac told me at the beginning of the year, and now this is the moment where I have to speak up a little bit and just let the guys know. We've got to make sure we're on top of it today, Thursdays, Fridays any day."
Chase showed all sorts of leadership during and after the game last Sunday. Following the 31-27 win, he reportedly posted on Instagram clips of the touchdowns of wide receiver Tee Higgins from quarterback Jake Browning, Browning's one-yard sneak, and Browning's 13-yarder to wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley. But not his four-yard score from Burrow.
"Just proud of my guys. It was a lot of emotions going on for me," Chase said. "Just going through adversity, me being tired, seeing Joe go down. It was a lot for me. So I was just taking a moment in just looking at what the guys are doing for what the team does and just taking it all in."
When Tinsley made his first NFL catch a memorable one-hander over his head, Chase had a leader's message waiting for him.
"I just told him, 'You keep making plays, you're going to be somebody else's number one,'" Chase said. "And that's a fact. He keeps making plays like that, he's going to be in the NFL for a long time."
NEIGHBORLY CHECK
Chase and Higgins, Burrow's two favorite targets, said on Thursday that they planned to stop by his house to check on him and maybe bring him some food.
"Just keep his hopes up. Keep a smile on his face," Higgins said after practice. "When you're with the guys 24-7, then you get hurt, you're not in the building as much, you kind of miss those conversations with your teammates. And things like that. So we're going to go over there and keep those conversations going, keep him in the loop game plan-wise if he wants."
Chase says he has yet to speak to Burrow after the two made eye contact following the game the only way two guys who have been close since college can.
"It sucks. It sucks, but for me, I just try to make sure I keep him company," Chase said. "Make sure his spirit's still high, make sure he's still active a little bit, not down on himself. All the small things that just keeps him from being hard on himself."
SLANTS AND SCREENS
The last time Browning and Higgins hooked up against Minnesota in 2023, Higgins went off with two fourth-quarter touchdowns that sent the game into overtime for a Bengals win at Paycor Stadium. The famous tying 21-yarder with 39 seconds left, complete with a blind backward tag of the pylon brings a smile to his face still.
But not his best, he says.
That came against the Jets on a play that was ruled incomplete, which he still disputes.
"Great game by us as a whole. Played complementary football there at the end and able to pull it off," Higgins said. "It's a new year."
The Bengals cornerbacks took a hit on Thursday's injury report. Cam Taylor-Britt, who went limited Wednesday after a hamstring issue, didn't practice Thursday. Then DJ Turner II surfaced after Thursday's practice with a hamstring injury and was listed as limited …
Rookie defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (ankle), called doubtful earlier in the week by Zac Taylor, is heading to out after missing his second straight day Thursday …
Linebacker Logan Wilson (ankle) moved from limited to full …
Defensive tackle B.J. Hill went to limited after a rest day …
Left guard Dylan Fairchild (shoulder) went full again …
Zac Taylor moved the club indoors for the bulk of practice Thursday as they get ready to combat the generational noise of U.S. Bank Stadium.
Two former Vikings both used the word "rocking," to describe their former home, and even though the IEL may not have got there Thursday, right guard Dalton Risner and backup quarterback Brett Rypien appreciated the simulation.
"It was a good look to switch things up … They don't keep it at 87 (degrees) like it's been here," Risner said. "But it doesn't matter where you are. You have to play ball whether it's inside or outside. We have to make it work.
Rypien: "We've done good job preparing for it. Using the silent count. Communication is definitely something that will be a key in that stadium." …
