Chad Johnson delivers a boost of confidence for the 2 Bengals players who may need it the most this week
Cincinnati Bengals legend Chad Johnson likes his former team’s chances against the Miami Dolphins in NFL Week 5, even if star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins can’t play.
Chad Johnson was present for the Cincinnati Bengals’ last win. He’ll also be there to watch his former team try to stop a two-game losing streak against the Miami Dolphins. What isn’t known yet is whether or not Johnson, Cincinnati’s all-time leading receiver, will get to watch the Bengals current top two wideouts play near his hometown.
Ja’Marr Chase is working through the concussion protocol. Tee Higgins is dealing with an adductor. Both of them are considered day-to-day per coach Zac Taylor. If neither of them can go against the Dolphins, Dohnte Meyers and Mitch Tinsley will each remain important in the Bengals’ path to victory like they were at the end of last week’s close loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Look no further than Johnson for a boost of confidence to those who may need it.
Chad Johnson believes in Dohnte Meyers, Mitch Tinsley holding it down
Meyers made his first-career NFL start last week alongside Chase and Higgins. Tinsley soon came off the bench once Chase went down with his concussion. Both of them were integral in a near game-winning drive in the final minutes against Jacksonville.
Johnson has already seen enough from both of them to feel good about Sunday, even if the worst case scenario occurs.
“And for them, that’s a good thing because if [Ja’Marr] Chase and Tee [Higgins] can’t go, I have the utmost confidence in Tinsley and Myers being able to make plays,” Johnson told Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson. “It’s all up to Zac Taylor understanding their skill sets and what their strengths are, and putting them in positions to be able to make those plays. Even if Tee and Chase can’t go, I mean it’d be a blow, but I still won’t feel that bad understanding how good Tinsley and Meyers are.”
Cincinnati prides itself on receiver depth, but relying on it to this degree would be unprecedented in the Joe Burrow era. One of Chase or Higgins have always been at his disposal in a Bengals uniform. Operating without either of them, even against a winless team through four weeks, will not come without challenges.
Johnson knows that, but still likes his original team more than the one based just north of his hometown of Liberty City.
“No disrespect to them, because that’s my home team,” Johnson told Hobson. “I’m a huge Dolphin fan, and it’s not a team that we should overlook, but it’s a game where we should go in, should be able to build our confidence as a team, defensively and offensively. We should be able to execute that offense with understanding this is a team that’s in a rebuilding phase, and we are a team that has our sights set on trying to compete for a Lombardi Trophy.”
Cincinnati begins practice Wednesday afternoon, and Taylor will provide an update on the status of both Chase and Higgins. Meyers and Tinsley will be getting reps regardless, and hopefully move with a bit of confidence thanks to the legend who came before them.
