Ja’Marr Chase is back at the microphone after a brief pause for his concussion and the Bengals’ bye week, and this time he had plenty to say about how the injury unfolded and how he got through it.
Chase described the process in more detail than he has before, calling it more of a “whiplash” concussion because of the way his body got twisted on the play against Jacksonville. Even after the hit, he didn’t think much of it at first.
“I thought I was really fine. But after seeing the video, I felt like it was more like a whiplash concussion from just my neck being hit side to side,” Chase noted.
“I don't think it was anything too crazy from a player. No dirty play.
I just think it was maybe a reaction of him trying to grab me or something like that. I can't say he was trying to play dirty at the end of the day; after I really got up and stuff, that's when I found out.
“When you get a concussion, you don't know until they tell you, 'Let's go talk to you.' Then they pull you in a tent, and they ask you a couple questions. Depends on how many questions you get right.”
The injury was the first concussion of Chase’s NFL career, and possibly the first of his playing career overall. Because the team had a bye week, he had a chance to be back the following week against Miami, and he made it.
To get there, Chase said he had to stay off his phone all week and avoid screens so his brain could recover. That meant old-school entertainment for a change, with paper books doing the heavy lifting. He said he spent a lot of time reading over the past few weeks, including The Superior Man and The 48 Laws of Power.
“I didn't really sit in the dark room. I tried to stay in like a routine to make sure I was okay at the end of the day,” Chase said.
“But I didn't really wear shades that much. I wore shades on the regular when we had walk-throughs ...
I wasn't on my phone. I couldn't play video games.
I was in here reading books just to keep my mind off stuff.”
Book club might not be the worst next step for him, either.
In Other News...
Bengals Head Into Ravens Test With One Defensive Problem To Fix
A familiar divisional test is waiting for Cincinnati in Week 7, and the defensive staff already has one issue circled. Al Golden pointed to perimeter run defense as the area that needs the most work after the Bengals gave up too many explosive outside runs through the first five games, a problem that can turn a routine snap into a long gain in a hurry. Against Baltimore, that kind of leak becomes even more dangerous because the Ravens are built to stretch defenses horizontally before attacking downhill.
Derrick Henry is the obvious stress point, and Cincinnati knows the game could tilt if it lets Baltimore dictate terms on the ground. Zac Taylor has also framed the matchup through the turnover battle, which adds another layer to a game that figures to be physical and possession-heavy. For the Bengals, the challenge is not just slowing one of the leagues most punishing backs, but doing it while cleaning up a run defense issue that has shown up too often already. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Trade Talk Is Suddenly Focusing On A More Realistic Fix
The Bengals running game has become a lingering concern, and it has put Chase Browns uneven season squarely in the spotlight as the trade deadline chatter starts to build. Jonathan Taylor is the obvious name to float if Cincinnati wants a bigger swing, but the more practical conversation has shifted toward other backs who could be available and better fit what the offense needs right now.
Among the alternatives being discussed are Omarion Hampton, Cam Skatterbo and Tony Pollard, each of them representing a different kind of fix for a ground game that has not found enough consistency. The appeal is not just talent, but realism: Cincinnati has to weigh who might actually be obtainable, who could help quickly and which move would make the most sense for a team trying to stabilize its offense without overreaching. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Need More From Erick All Jr
The Bengals tight end depth chart took a hit when Tanner Hudson went down with a season-ending pec injury, leaving Cincinnati to reshuffle a role that had become part of the passing-game mix. In the immediate aftermath, tight ends coach James Casey pointed toward Erick All Jr. as the player best positioned to absorb those snaps and keep that package moving.
All is now being asked to do more, and not just as a plug-in replacement. Colbie Young is also expected to work into some of Hudsons snaps once he finishes recovering from his own injury, giving the Bengals a layered answer as they sort out the workload. For a team trying to keep its offense balanced, how quickly those pieces fit together will matter in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]