Bengals: Ja'Marr Chase throws incidental shade at Browns with Joe Burrow injury comment
When it comes to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's strained calf, several weeks still means several weeks. Head coach Zac Taylor said his QB's original recovery timetable remains the same now eight days after the injury. Despite the unclear estimate from Taylor, the sentiment is that Burrow will indeed return prior to the Bengals' Week 1 […]
When it comes to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's strained calf, several weeks still means several weeks. Head coach Zac Taylor said his QB's original recovery timetable remains the same now eight days after the injury.
Despite the unclear estimate from Taylor, the sentiment is that Burrow will indeed return prior to the Bengals' Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns. Just five weeks remain until the team travels up to Northwestern Ohio.
Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase doesn't mind if Burrow takes all five weeks to continue recovering.
In an appearance on NFL Network after Friday's practice, Chase said he told Burrow to take his time returning from the injury and that he "doesn't want him there," for the season-opener vs. the Browns.
That noise you heard was all of Cleveland doing a double take.
Multiple levels exist in this quote. For starters, Chase is relaying that he doesn't want his quarterback to rush back for the start of the season. Calf injuries are tricky in that they can pop up weeks after the initial strain and linger for well beyond the initial recovery estimate.
Burrow playing it safe and sitting out the first game or two wouldn't be ideal, but the Bengals have become accustomed to starting slow out of the gate. Zac Taylor has a record of 1-7 in games played between Week 1-2 as the Bengals' head coach.
The Bengals went 0-2 last year with Burrow under center and still made a second-consecutive appearance in the AFC Championship game.
Chase isn't too worried about taking a similar path this year, as unideal that would be, but he also isn't okay with accepting losing. His comments would indicate he has some degree of confidence in defeating Cleveland without Burrow throwing him the ball.
And that's spicy.
The Bengals have only won one game against the Browns since drafting Burrow in 2020, and it was the most recent meeting late last year. No team has given them more of a headache than their in-state rival. They absolutely need Burrow out there to give them a reasonable chance at starting 1-0.
You have to wonder if this quote is going up on a bulletin board somewhere in Cleveland. Chase meant well for his quarterback's wellbeing, but the Browns will want to make sure Burrow's absence will be felt if it comes to that.
How Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase outsmarted the media this week after Joe Burrow’s injury
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase outsmarted the media this week after Joe Burrow’s injury
Featured image via © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
