The Bengals welcomed back Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow and All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase this week, and on Tuesday they met an eager media with Thanksgiving Night (8:20-Cincinnat’s Channel 5) and the Ravens 48 hours away in Baltimore.
Burrow talked for the first time since head coach Zac Taylor said he "anticipated," him starting, and Chase surfaced for the first time since serving a one-game suspension for his incident with Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey back on Nov. 16.
Thursday marks 75 days since Burrow left the Paycor Stadium field with a turf (big) toe injury on his right foot and if you want to know why he has decided to come back and not save himself for next year, no surprises.
"Look at it from my perspective. I'm a football player, and if I get hurt, I'm going to go through the rehab process and then I'm going to let everyone know when I feel like I can go out there and play," Burrow said before a night practice. "I don't really know what else to say about that. I'm not ever going to go to somebody and say, "Yea, I'm healthy, but I don't think I should go out there and play.' That doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
"I'm not going to live my life and play this game scared of something happening. Like, yeah, something is going to happen, it's football. Guys are going to get hurt, guys are going to get concussions, you're going to break bones, tear ligaments, it's a physical, intense game. That's part of this. Yea, I've had injuries, there's not a lot I can do about that. I worked really hard to have that not happen, but what I can do is when it does happen, I can control how I'm attacking my rehab and attacking practice and doing everything in my power to get back as quickly as possible and that's what I did."
So it follows that Burrow has no plans to change the off-script swashbuckling style that marked last year's MVP-caliber season he led the league in passing yards and touchdown passes.
"I'm feeling good enough to go out there and move and extend," Burrow said. "Obviously, I'll pick my spots when to do that and when not to, but I feel confident that in certain moments I'll be able to do that."
One guy who is quite pleased is Chase. It will be recalled he had a 264-yard day in Baltimore last year, three yards off a career-high.
"I'm happy I've got my friend back. I'm excited for him," Chase said. "Not a better game for him to come back."
Ja'Marr Reflects
After issuing an apology Monday for the incident and suspension, on Tuesday, Chase said defensive backs bait him routinely.
"They already do it. They've been doing it. Nothing new," Chase said. "At the end of the day, I mean, like I said, it's a lot. It's stuff that you're going to allow and stuff that you're not going to allow. It's a limit to everything."
Asked if Ramsey exceeded limits, Chase indicated he did. "It's probably something like that," he said, but wouldn't say if it was physical or verbal. He did say he hasn't had contact with Ramsey, and it doesn't sound he will.
Chase says he's continuing to grow in the captain role, but that he doesn't much care what people think of him.
"I don't have anything to prove to anybody," Chase said. "I've got people to take care of. It's not going to stop me from doing that."
Burrow doesn't plan on seeing anything else.
"He's who he is. He's an intense great player. He's going to go out and do what he does on the field and prepare the way that he does no matter any extenuating circumstances," Burrow said. "I don't think it's going to be much different."
Joe Prep
Burrow says he wouldn't do anything differently on the Sept. 14 play he was hurt, a second-and-20 that eventually broke down into a sack.
"Pocket starts collapsing, and you try to buy a little time. And then I just tried to give myself up and my foot got caught in the turf. Unlucky," Burrow said.
He thinks he needed two full weeks of practice more for his mind than his body.
"We were going to move up that timeline, and obviously didn't end up playing last week," Burrow said. "But preparing that whole week like I was going to play was beneficial. Putting yourself in that mental state to get back into the swing of things, it's an intense place to be at times. So I'm glad I had that week to feel that before Thursday."
Actually, his body did feel sore last week, his first week of full practice with the team. Burrow went full Wednesday and Thursday, went limited Friday, and said he felt ready to go last Sunday against the Pats until Taylor waved him off after they talked Friday.
"I think that was a good decision," Burrow said. "
I was feeling good. Wednesday and Thursday practice happened, I took a lot of reps. My body was pretty sore. Not necessarily my toe. My toe feels great. The rest of my body being back out there for so long.
"I was confident I could get that right to play on Sunday. Zac ended up thinking it was better to wait the extra four days."
Slants and Screens
Chase bonded with the faithful Sunday watching the game.
"I guess I finally know how Cincinnati fans feel watching the game. It was nerve-racking for me," Chase said of the 26-20 loss to the Patriots. "Usually when I'm in the game, it's not nerve-racking, but watching it was for me." …
Burrow is making his 72nd start Thursday. So, yes, he has been asking Joe Flacco about his 201 starts.
"I think whenever you have a guy that's played that long, especially a guy that plays so much differently than you do, you can ask him what he thought in a situation or how would you react to this or that," Burrow said. "He's played a long time and played at a high level. That's something I did take advantage of." …
View the best photos from Bengals-Ravens matchups of years past
DE Sam Hubbard runs into the endzone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, January 15 2023.
FILE - In this Dec 31, 2017, file photo, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) reacts as he scores the winning touchdown as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr (24) lies on the ground during the second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
CB Cam Taylor-Britt breaks up a deep pass against the Ravens in Baltimore, Thursday, November 16, 2023.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates completing the catch during the third quarter of the Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, January 15 2023.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) leaps over Baltimore Ravens defensive back Chuck Clark, below, during the first half of NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) gestures after rushing for a first down during a wild-card playoff NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase and former RB Joe Mixon celebrate a touchdown against the Ravens in Baltimore, Thursday, November 16, 2023.
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Kroft (81) pulls in a touchdown pass under pressure from Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Kamalei Correa (51) during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Reggie Kelly, left, dives trying to pick up some extra yardage as he is chased down by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott, right, during the first half of their football game in Baltimore Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006..(AP Photo/Chris Gardner)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches the ball for a touchdown against Baltimore Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington (29) in the second half during an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs with the ball against Baltimore Ravens safety Chuck Clark (36) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) catches a touchdown pass against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr (39) during the first half of NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1) hurdles over Baltimore Raven Daryl Worley (29) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals' Tyler Boyd (83) does a flip in front of Baltimore Ravens' Daryl Worley following a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
QB Joe Burrow escapes pressure and looks to throw against the Ravens at Paycor Stadium.
Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, right, is stopped by Cincinnati Bengals safety Dexter Jackson (28) in an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 13-7, shutting out the Ravens until the final minutes of the game. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson celebrates a play against the Ravens at Paycor Stadium
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, left, gets tangled with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross as Ross makes a touchdown catch in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Cody Core (16) runs the ball against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Kyle Arrington (24) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) tries to stay inbounds as Baltimore Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington (29) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) covers Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
WR Tee Higgins makes a catch against the Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, September 17, 2023.
DE Sam Hubbard runs into the endzone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, January 15 2023.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins celebrates his second touchdown of the game during Cincinnati's Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Bengals TE Erick All Jr. hurdles a defender during Cincinnati's Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase catches a long touchdown during Cincinnati's Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, October 6, 2024.
TE Tanner Hudson hurdles a defender during the Bengals primetime Week 10 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, November 7, 2024.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates a 70-yard touchdown during the Bengals primetime Week 10 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, November 7, 2024.
CB Cam Taylor-Britt breaks up a pass during the Bengals primetime Week 10 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, November 7, 2024.
